Material is a relevant part of the English teaching-learning process. Designing material is a more current practice that also needs to be assessed to avoid possible constraints. The same occurs when professors adapt or adopt materials because there is always the need to contextualize learning, to establish the outcomes, and to analyze content.
Material evaluation is a fundamental underpinning in the process of teaching English. In the last years research has proved that evaluating material is a healthy and indispensable practice that every teacher should scrutinize to effectively address students. For selecting or designing appropriate material to students, first, professors need to think on the target population. That is evaluating the students’ needs, ages, curriculum, educational environment, and other pertinent aspects. Second, assessing material assumes the idea of having a great variety of interactive activities that really promote the use of the language. Third, the call for incorporating real language for students to have authentic and challenging input; hence, selecting the material is not too simple or too complex. Fourth, the material should appeal and catch students’ interest, so it is crucial that material looks attractive. Fifth, the material should be clear and unambiguous; the images and the instructions need to be understandable and simple. Sixth, material should also have something related to culture, and how to sensitize students to understand others.
In any case, creating, adapting, or adopting materials there is always the need to make evident how effective and appropriate the material is for your specific teaching situation. The new trends of teaching are giving more emphases to the learners. In other words, teachers must know the students to successfully select or make the most suitable material for them. For instance, looking for appropriate songs with a message or videos related to studied topics are examples of materials that are attractive and in which there can be developed an endless list of activities such as commenting the message, agreeing or disagreeing, acting out, filling the blanks, asking and answering information questions, reacting to the song/ video, and so on.
