Materials adaptation in LSP: Processes and techniques

Starting from the acknowledgement that LSP instructors are often not involved in the selection of the book for a course, it is evident that the evaluation and potential adaptation of the materials in highly specialised courses is of fundamental importance in order for learners to be able to reach the given learning objectives. This work presents reflections on the concept of materials adaptation and the creation of bespoke materials when adaptation leads to addition, with a particular focus on the techniques known commonly as “expansion” and “replacing”. These are usually dealt with separately but are considered by us to be closely connected due to the primacy of sourcing and managing new LSP content in both techniques. A presentation of methods for selecting and managing new content is then followed by several examples of the two techniques. The aim of this chapter is to furnish both instructors and their trainers with a scheme for approaching materials adaptation, and the strategies that should be taken into account when planning training activities for LSP teachers, so as to provide them with the key tools to evaluate, select, prepare, integrate and review materials effectively.