Authentic materials are considered as a beneficial tool for teachers and students in teaching speaking English as a foreign language. Speaking is one of the most significant skills for EFL students to communicate with other peers. It is also important for tertiary students in the Vietnamese context. However, a few studies about the relationship between authentic materials and speaking ability were conducted in Vietnamese high school contexts. Therefore, the current study aimed to find out high school teachers’ perceptions and practices of using authentic materials in teaching English speaking to Grade 10 students in a Vietnamese context. Data collected in this study include questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Participants in this study were seventy-seven high school teachers in five provinces in the Mekong delta. Findings from this study reveal that teachers had positive perceptions of using authentic materials in teaching English speaking to Grade 10 students. Pedagogical implications for teachers and school administrators are also made.

Keywords: authentic materials, speaking skill, teaching speaking