TV shows, authenticity, and language learning

Abstract

Abstract One of the many resources teachers seek for authentic materials, particularly for spoken English, is TV. However, the concept of authenticity is relative, and it is sometimes hard to determine how authentic materials are. The present study uses a corpus-based analysis to assess to what extent a soap opera, compared to a sitcom, represent natural conversation on a salient set of linguistic features associated with the situational characteristics of conversation. Results showed that the soap opera seems to be closer to natural conversation, and hence more authentic, in the use of features associated with two situational characteristics out of three, namely real time production and interactiveness, and expressing feelings and stance. Results could help inform the practitioners’ decisions when looking for authentic spoken materials.