Over the last few decades, there has been a great interest in the usage of authentic material in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. As a result, teachers expose their learners more than ever to authentic material such as newspaper articles, magazines, letters, movies and podcasts in their classrooms. The research on the effectiveness of authentic material suggests that the implementation of such material in the EFL classroom context helps learners to develop a range of skills and strategies which they need when encountering the reality of the foreign language (Gilmore 2007). Authentic material provides learners with ample opportunities to bridge the gap between the classroom and the “real world” and thus to extend their knowledge of the target language community and culture (Mc Grarry 1995, Müller-Hartmann & Schocker von Dirfurth 2007). Empirical studies on the learners’ attitude towards genuine material report that exposing students to authentic resources does not only play a key role in enhancing a positive attitude towards language learning but also increases their enjoyment, engagement, interest and motivation (Peacock 1997). The motivating and beneficial effects of authentic material on the learning process lead to changes in terms of EFL material development and task design. Education policy makers and researchers are increasingly pushing for authentic tasks that learners will encounter in the real world (e.g. e-mail project). After a brief overview of the concept of authenticity and the ambiguous definitions of the term, the article responds to the questions, when and how authentic material can be introduced into the EFL classroom. Furthermore, it contributes to the research literature by bridging the gap between theoretical and practical approaches to teaching with authentic material. Finally, this has led to a critical analysis of the motivating role of authentic material used in the EFL classroom. The results can serve to develop efficient pedagogical strategies for EFL learners to meet their specific needs.