THE ROLE OF ADAPTING MATERIALS IN MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT: SELECTION, DELETION, ADDITION, AND CHANGE

Abstract

This study examines the role of adapting materials in materials development, arguing that adaptation is an essential skill for every effective language teacher. This study discusses why teachers need to adapt already-published materials rather than simply adopting them, as no single published material can fully account for the specific needs, interests, and learning context of every group of learners. A model of language curriculum design is presented to explain how contextual factors, including environment, needs, and principles, as well as inner classroom decisions, influence what happens in the classroom and why published materials will not always meet learners’ needs. Four evaluative processes of adaptation: selection, deletion, addition, and change are then discussed as practical tools that allow teachers to modify existing materials in a way that better suits their learners. Adaptation is not merely a practical response to material limitations but a reflection of teacher agency and professional judgement in materials development.