This workshop analyses the nature of teaching materials, focusing on the sanitised and safe approach taken by many course book writers. Why are topics of great social importance, such as Aids, consistently avoided? Why do many teachers have to supplement their courses with materials that truly engage their students and reflect popular culture? Why is there such a discrepancy between the real world and its ‘ELT? version?
Using a survey as a springboard for discussion, we firstly examine the topics and areas considered most and least ‘taboo’ by a cross section of teachers, then focus on ways in which new slants can be discreetly introduced into a teaching programme. We will then focus on practical ways to ‘spice up’ conventional material, find alternative sources for our texts and broach ‘uncomfortable topics’ in a ‘comfortable way’. A variety of practical examples is presented throughout.