QUICK RESOURCE SHEET #51

Podcasting for English teachers

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What is podcasting?

Podcasting is a means of distributing audio and video programs via the Internet that lets users subscribe to a number of files, also known as a "feed" and then to hear or view the material at the time that they choose. A feed is usually in the MP3 audio format.

Podcasting became initially popular in late 2004, largely due to software that enabled automatic downloading of audio both onto computers with suitable MP3 playback software and mobile devices that could play MP3 files.

---from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

How can teachers use podcasts?

“…a podcast of dialogue can be made available for students to listen to, as long as it's recorded digitally. If they want they can download it to their iPods and listen to it on their early-morning train into work or university, for instance. In fact, they might also be encouraged to transcribe their own turns in the dialogue, rather than the teacher doing it.

… once students are used to the system of recording their discussions, there is a lot to be gained from using their own language production as a main source of material. If there was a regular discussion aspect to their classes, and they knew in advance what sorts of topics were to be discussed, then the students could also prepare for the discussions in their own time through mind-mapping the vocab that would be likely to come up, visualising how the discussions might go, and using books such as the excellent Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use range. It would also be very good if the discussions were based on articles found by the students on the Internet, for instance.

… students can be encouraged to listen to more sources of English through all the normal media channels, including the Internet. I especially like the thought of students using iTunes to find interesting podcasts to listen to every morning, for instance.

As for teachers making podcasts: well, why bother? … it could be useful to produce graded listenings for lower level learners.

But for the higher levels, the beauty of the Internet in general – and this includes podcasting – is that they can find resources that they have an interest in, and that's incredibly important in terms of motivation and learner autonomy. One final idea is that with some groups, the students might want to make their own podcasts, and that would be a perfect example of task-based learning: learning by doing.”

---adapted from http://teflsmiler.typepad.com/weblog/2005/06/podcasting_and_.html

http://esl.about.com/od/englishlistening/a/intro_podcasts.htm

This page from about.com gives a good concise overview of the use of podcasts in learning English, followed by direct links to a number of up-to-the-minute, high-interest podcasts teachers can use with their students.

http://teflpodcasts.blogspot.com/

This “blog focusing on using podcasts for teaching and learning in EFL” is an open forum filled with great suggestions for incorporating podcasting, as well as direct links to new podcasts as they become available. It’s a great place to post if you have questions on using podcasts.

http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Listening/Podcasts/

This collection of links to podcasts is regularly updated, with material ranging from news to jokes and dialogues to songs.

Previous editions of the QUICK RESOURCE SHEET

#1 – Creating quizzes (and more) online                                                         

#2 – Vocabulary builders

#3 – Online discussion groups for English teachers                                    

#4 – Grammar headaches – and how to cure them

#5 – Resources for new teachers                                                     

#6 – International Education Week

#7 – Mentoring programs                                                                    

#8 – Education publications online

#9 – Applied Linguistics                                                                   

#10 – English for Young Learners

#11 – World AIDS Day                                                                      

#12 – Online writing guides

#13 – E-mail exchanges                                                                      

#14 – Free online English courses

#15 – Effective e-mail communication                                             

#16 – Libraries online

#17 – American Studies                                                                     

#18 – Teaching methodologies

#19 – Internet tutorials                                                                       

#20 – Using the newspaper – Part I

#21 – Making books                                                                           

#22 - Using the newspaper – Part II

#23 – Human rights in language teaching

#24 – Blogging

#25 – Poetry and language teaching

#26 – The communicative approach

#27 -  Idioms

#28 – Earth Day

#29 – Alternative assessment

#30 – Peer assessment

#31 – Self-assessment

#32 – Portfolio assessment – Part I

#33 -  Portfolio assessment - Part II (Online Portfolios)

#34 – Intercultural communication

#35 – Teaching Adults

#36 – Learning disorders / Special needs

#37 – Using computers in reading instruction

#38 – Use of authentic materials

#39 – English for Medical Purposes

#40 – Sources for authentic materials

#41 – Education and technology

#42 – Academic writing

#43 – Teaching and stress

#44 – Back to school

#45 – Motivating students

#46 – Action research

#47 – Internet terminology

#48 – Fluency

#49 – Curriculum design

#50 – Pragmatics