Instructors identified authenticity

Instructors identified authenticity as a key component of learners’ per- sonal stories, which were described by the instructors as immediate, relevant, intimate, and alive, qualities which correspond to the aspects of authenticity proposed by Guariento and Morley (2001).Published literature can be used to elicit learner stories. Instructor 1 described how a novel study could lead to a discussion of issues raised in the novel, which in turn ‘brings out the personal stories.’ Instructor 4 reiterated this comment, suggesting that reading published stories pro- vided ‘an opportunity to create our own stories.’ However, Instructor 4, who taught a basic literacy class, found that published literature was not always suitable for her literacy students. She commented that ‘it’s more for me the relevancy for the students.’ Learners were eager to assert that their stories were genuine. ‘It’s a real story’ was Student 6’s comment after she read her story. ‘This be true,’ Student 1 declared.