THE ONION!

By Carlos Gontow*

Exposing our students to authentic materials is very important. First and foremost, because they are exposed to real language – the language that native speakers use. Language in textbooks is many times very artificial. Secondly, because authentic materials help students to learn about what’s going on in the world. It’s not just practicing the language, but using the language to get information.

Reading newspapers and magazines, and watching the news on TV should always be encouraged. Even if students don’t understand everything they read or see, they will be able to understand more and more as they practice more.

“The Onion” is a very good news website that you can recommend to your students. It is called “America’s Finest News Source” and it features written articles and a great variety of videos showing news and interviews.
Your students will love “The Onion.” It is really entertaining. There is just one small detail – everything is fake. None of the news articles and interviews is true. But they are written and recorded as if they were real. I believe some people can even be fooled by them – at least for a while. You and your students will laugh a lot with the stories and videos.

Visit the website and take a look at everything that is available:
https://www.theonion.com/

The videos from “The Onion” can also be found on youtube. Just type the onion in the search box and you will find a long list of videos.

Take a look, for example, at this video that shows how Disney geneticists build new child stars:

Also, take a look at this interview with a boy who was attacked by a shark:

Did you know that Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is not a real person, but a puppet? Learn more about it in this exclusive interview with the puppeteer who invented the character:

“The Onion” is a great source of authentic language and fun. Your students will practice their English and have a great time. Maybe you can show them the article or video without telling them it’s fake. Do you think you will be able to fool them?

Carlos Gontow is an English teacher, actor and teacher trainer. He has had about 25 years of experience teaching children, teenagers and adults. He’s involved with teaching English through theater, games and songs. He’s the author of the books “The Classroom is a Stage – 40 Short Plays for English Students” and “101 Dicas Para Você Aprender Inglês Com Sucesso,” both published by DISAL. He’s also the author of the blog “Dicas Para Aprender Inglês”

https://dicasingles.wordpress.com

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