THE USE OF AUTHENTIC MATERIALS FOR DEVELOPING SKIMMING READING SKILLS IN BASIC SECONDARY EDUCATION

Abstract

The development of effective reading strategies is a central component of foreign language education in basic secondary schools. Skimming, as a rapid reading strategy, allows students to identify the general meaning of a text, recognize main ideas, and predict content without focusing on details. This article explores the pedagogical potential of authentic materials in teaching skimming reading skills. Authentic materials—including news articles, advertisements, online posts, brochures, and short informational texts—provide learners with natural linguistic input and expose them to real-life communication patterns. Their meaningful, context-rich nature encourages students to read purposefully, activate background knowledge, and focus on global comprehension. Drawing on communicative and communicative-cognitive approaches, this work examines the theoretical foundations of reading comprehension, reviews research on authentic input, and analyzes the benefits of using authentic texts in basic secondary education. The findings indicate that authentic materials significantly enhance students’ ability to process information quickly, identify key concepts, and develop strategic reading skills. Moreover, authentic texts increase motivation, promote cognitive engagement, and support the development of functional literacy. The article concludes that integrating authentic materials into reading instruction is an effective and practical approach to fostering skimming skills and preparing students for real-world reading demands