English for business communication: using authentic materials for adult learners at the beginner level

The article provides a rationale for the use of authentic materials in the classes of English for Business Communication with adult learners at the beginner level of language proficiency. The andragogical principles and research findings prove that adult students are interested in acquiring practical skills and therefore need to be exposed to the learning material related to their workplace and career. It is essential that the learning process lead to noticeable success and positive outcomes, which should motivate the students. This research argues that such favorable learning conditions may be created by incorporating various authentic materials into the ESP classes, including those with beginners. For this purpose the teacher should use original sources with relevant content as supplements to the basic textbook. The tasks have to be tailored to the adult students' level of linguistic competence as well as their needs and expectations.