What is realia?

Realia refers to real-life objects, artifacts or materials which are used to support teaching and learning in various fields such as language education, science, social studies, and sensory learning. Realia can be physical objects such as maps, photographs, models, charts, diagrams, and specimens, or even virtual objects such as videos, animations, and interactive simulations. Realia is used to provide learners with authentic experiences that are linked to real-world settings, contexts, and situations, and which can help to enhance their understanding of key concepts and ideas. Realia can also help to make learning more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable, as students are able to explore and interact with the objects and materials in meaningful ways. In language education, realia can be used to help learners understand and use new vocabulary, grammar, and language patterns, while in science, realia can be used to help learners observe and investigate the natural world. Realia is a valuable resource for teachers and learners alike, as it provides a concrete and tangible way to explore and understand complex ideas and concepts.