Ask a TESOL Leader

Reader Question: How can I choose the most effective teaching materials to supplement my textbook? My program office has a library of older handouts and books, but I'd like to bring in multimedia and even realia. It's tough to find the right materials that won't require a huge amount of prep time.

It is a great question, especially with the rapid pace of technological advancements created to help the new generation of learners. Thanks to the Open Educational Resources (OER) movement, we teachers can benefit from free resources—and share our own resources. I’m happy to share some of my go-to sources for supplementary materials. 

Supplementing With OER

You can find access to curated materials via The Merlot System. Use the advanced materials search to filter by disciplines, material type, technical format, audience, and material quality. 

For a simpler approach, you can always refer to and use Open Educational Resources Commons. The materials are free to use and searchable by collections, Common Core resources, and STEM literacy. For example, Common Core Social Studies Aligned English Language Arts has 1,812 resources, and they can be sorted by title, relevance, rating, date added, and visits. Here are some of the 25 other collections:

• • Next Generation Science Standards Aligned Resources (2,610 resources)
  • Career and Technical Education (88 resources)
  • Open Textbook Library (1,127 resources)
  • AI Resources for OER Educators (48 resources)

A search with the word “multimedia” returns 941 lessons; among these, I found a very nice lesson titled “Digital Footprint” with a ready-to-go lesson for download. I encourage you to explore more lesson plans and find what works for you. With OER, the convenience is in the ability to modify any lesson for your class.

• • Note: Though these resources are all “open” for use, how you’re allowed to alter them may be different. Before making a lesson your own, pay attention to the licenses and whether you can modify them. To help you understand the copyright, check these copyright license options.

Using Realia

Realia, or objects from everyday life you can use for teaching, can enhance engagement and promote deeper understanding. You can utilize what you have in your classroom (e.g., a chair or a poster), or you can bring things in from home (e.g., a restaurant menu, brochure, tickets, souvenirs from trips, food packaging). Realia can include physical objects, authentic printed materials, manipulatives (e.g., playing cards or blocks), and video clips and voice recordings from the target language (e.g., movies, TV shows, radio segments, commercials). 

Though, traditionally, realia refers to real objects, BusyTeacher also explains that there is virtual realia, which is “any item from the target culture that is presented in a digital format,” so many of the things you could not bring from home can be shown online. Though students can’t pick up and manipulate these objects, it does provide a level of access to objects you might not have geographical access to. 

You also can use augmented reality (AR) as a type of realia; AR overlays digital elements onto the real world, making abstract concepts more tangible and accessible for students. AR can bring 3D models, historical artifacts, or even weather into the classroom, allowing students to interact with these elements in ways that would be impossible with physical realia. Try MebAR, an AR-enhanced coursebook project, or the Mondly AR app. You may find this example from an ESL student helpful to get ideas of how you can bring realia with augmented reality. 

Whether you bring in real object or virtual objects or you’re using OER, there are many free and engaging ways to supplement your existing materials. Enjoy!