THE IMPACT OF AUTHENTIC MATERIALS ON TEACHING BUSINESS WRITING SKILLS TO ESP STUDENTS

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of authentic materials on the teaching of Business Writing to ESP learners, emphasizing their potential to enhance practical language skills and learner engagement. To provide a robust theoretical foundation, the study critically reviews a range of scholarly perspectives and definitions of authentic materials, highlighting their role in creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences. The research adopts a quasi-experimental design, involving an experimental group exposed to authentic materials and a control group receiving traditional, descriptive instruction. To assess the effectiveness of these materials, participants were assigned two structured writing tasks, which served as key indicators of their ability to apply business writing conventions in practice. The performance of both groups was systematically analyzed, with detailed discussion of the differences observed. The findings reveal that learners engaging with authentic materials demonstrated greater accuracy, appropriateness of business language, and overall engagement compared to the control group. Based on these results, the study concludes by recommending the integration of authentic materials into ESP curriculum design as a means of fostering more effective, real-world-oriented learning outcomes.