An assessment of efl teachers’ practice of using authentic materials in improving students’ communicative competence: the case of five selected preparatory schools

The main purpose of this study is to assess EFL teachers’ practice of using authentic materials in improving students’ communicative competence. The researchers selected five woredas out of 14 woredas using simple random sampling technique. Thus, 15 English language teachers who were teaching English language in the year 2017/18 G.C.in the schools were selected for interviews, questionnaires, document analysis, and classroom observation by using simple random sampling technique. Mixed research design which involves both quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection and analysis were employed. The data gathered through open ended questionnaire, interview and document analysis were transcribed and thematically organized and then qualitatively analyzed. Then, the researchers tried to triangulate the data obtained through these methods by observing what actually happened in the actual classroom. The overall findings of this study indicate that in spite of the fact that authentic materials are crucial to develop students’ communicative competence, less attention is given to incorporate the materials.