Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research Volume 3, Issue 5, 2016, pp. 264-275 Available online at www.jallr.com ISSN: 2376-760X * Correspondence: Halimeh Mohammad Mahmoudi, Email: Halimeh.muhammad.mahmoudi@gmail.com © 2016 Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research An Investigation into the Effect of Authentic Materials on Improving Intermediate EFL Learners' Pragmatic Competence Gholam-Reza Abbasian Assistant Professor, Imam Ali University and Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran Halimeh Mohammad Mahmoudi * Young Researchers and Elite club, Qeshm Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran PhD Candidate, Islamic Azad University, Kish International Branch, Iran Adel Shahbazi PhD Candidate, Islamic Azad University, Kish International Branch, Iran Abstract The present study was an attempt to investigate the effect of authentic materials on improving intermediate EFL learners' pragmatic competence. To this end, 140 female Iranian EFL learners were originally employed out of which 60 participants were selected as a homogeneous sample based on their performance an OPT and then they were divided into equal groups; an experimental and a control group. Having received a diagnostic pragmatic test, the former group was exposed to authentic materials, while the latter one to conventional pedagogic materials. Afterwards, they received a posttest identical to the pretest; measuring pragmatic competence. The data analysis through an independent sample t-test revealed that the experimental group outperformed on the posttest of pragmatic competence. In other words, teaching authentic materials showed to have a significant effect on improving learners' pragmatic competence. Keywords: authentic materials, pragmatic competence, EFL learners INTRODUCTION As a matter of fact, the process of learning a new language and being able to communicate with language is an achievement beyond memorizing vocabularies and becoming skilled at its grammatical structures. Knowledge of grammar and lexis is necessary and needed for successful language learning, but it appears to be insufficient for effective and successful communication. In order to be able to use foreign/second language efficiently and to acquire the capability to communicate effectively and positively, English language learners need to improve their communicative competence in all aspects of second language. In order to communicate with others effectively, L2 learners should be able to use language appropriately in context (Brown, 2007).