Podcasts for SL/FL teaching & learning Prof. Lourdes Cerezo Dpto. Filologia Inglesa - UMU

Podcast: Definitions What is a podcast ?

Def. 1: A podcast is an audio or video recording posted on a website (usually a weblog) that you can download to your computer or MP3 player and play anytime. Podcasts are a great way to learn new information and keep up on trends while you are driving, exercising, cooking, etc. Podcast: Definitions

Def. 2: Podcasting (a portemanteau of the words iPod and broadcasting ) is the name given to the publishing of audio (usually mp3 files ) via the Internet, designed to be downloaded and listened to on a portable mp3 player of any type, or on a personal computer. Podcast: Definitions

Podcasts: How-To - Most podcasts use a blog as their homepage, with links to the audio files. - Podcasts can be downloaded and transferred to a portable mp3 player, recorded to CD-ROM for use in class, or students can be directed to them for self-study purposes on the computer. - In addition, many ELT podcasts come with transcripts to help understanding.

Podcast: Uses in ELT What are podcasts used for in ELT?

- Use. 1: Additional listening input & basis for listening comprehension exercises. - Use 2: Additional speaking practice, since anyone with access to the Internet can record and produce one. Podcast: Uses in ELT

- Use 3: To generate conversation based on students' reaction to podcast. -Use 4: To provide each student with diverse listening materials. Another useful aspect of podcasting is its subscription model: users subscribe to a feed via iTunes or iPodder.iTunes iPodder Podcast: Uses in ELT

Podcasts: Types Types of podcasts in language teaching & learning

1. Authentic podcasts 2. Teacher podcasts 3. Student podcasts 4. Educator podcasts Podcasts: Types

1. Authentic podcasts Podcasts that are not aimed at ELT students. - Most of them are only suitable for higher level students. - Others (Sushi Radio) are made by NNSs and are ideal for use with lower level classes.Sushi Radio Podcasts: Types

Authentic podcasts (in English) 1. Podcast directories: - EnglishcasterEnglishcaster - Podcast AlleyPodcast Alley (Pick “Education” in the genre box, and then choose 27. English as a second language)27. English as a second language Podcasts: Types

2. Topic podcasts: - NPR (Health Matters, Talking Politics, Science Friday,...)Health MattersTalking Politics - VoaNews (Encounters, Issues in the News, Our World,...)EncountersIssues in the NewsOur World Podcasts: Types

2. Teacher podcasts - Podcasts that are produced by teachers or educators. - They are aimed at helping students learn through listening content that is not available elsewhere, or that gives a local flavour. Podcasts: Types

Teacher podcast samples: - The English desk (ESL podcasts from Canada. Everyday English for listening & pronunciation practice). The English desk - Just Vocabulary (ESL 4-min. podcast with new interesting words, to help improve vocabulary).Just Vocabulary - Culips ESL (Canadian English. To learn English the way it is really spoken. Focused on real, current English).Culips ESL Podcasts: Types

- ESL Learningpod.com (general & business English, grammar fun, quiz corner...).ESL Learningpod.com - English-Listening-World.com (listen to news and other stories and practice phrasal verbs, idioms, grammar...).English-Listening-World.com - ESL PodCards (audio postcards with info about a town/city from different countries, biographies of famous people, or events that make these places famous).ESL PodCards Podcasts: Types

- ESL HelpDesk (Grammar lessons, activities for listening comprehension, communication activities...).ESL HelpDesk - Effortless English Podcast (A podcast for learning English online. Learn to speak naturally. Learn English by listening).Effortless English Podcast - Podcasts in English (For classroom or computer lab use; to supplement coursebook listenings; authentic conversations; natural language).Podcasts in English Podcasts: Types

3. Student podcasts - Produced by students. - Students can listen and experience the culture and hear about the lives and interests of other students from around the world. - English Conversations (created by students for students).English Conversations - Fudan university (high school students in China).Fudan university Podcasts: Types

4. Educator podcasts - Comprehensible Input and Bit by Bit: reflective podcasts that cover methodological matters as well as podcasting for ELT teachers.Comprehensible Input Bit by Bit - Ed Tech Talk: more general, about educational technology, recorded live (webcasting).Ed Tech Talk Podcasts: Types

Podcast production How to produce a podcast

Podcast production Radio show production has commonly been a popular project choice among language learners. Audience: - Was : classmates and teacher. - Is : wider audience (by uploading it to the WWW as a podcast).

Podcast production Advantages: The students will take more pride in the preparation of the show, knowing that it can be listened to by people from all over the world, including their friends and family, not only the teacher or their classmates.

Podcast production Procedure: The students... - discuss and plan the contents; - write and rewrite scripts ; - revise scripts with their classmates (and the teacher later) to make sure the content is understandable and there are no mistakes. - rehearse the show before the final recording.

Podcast production What you need: 1) A means of recording audio in the mp3 file format, on a PC equipped with speakers and a microphone or, if you want to record students in your classroom, a handheld mp3 player with recording facilities.

Podcast production 2) Audio editing software, such as Audacity. Audacity Although you can simply record the show in order, using a tool such as Audacity allows you to edit out the mistakes, change the order of students and add music and sound effects, creating a more professional show. Don't freak! Audacity is very easy to use.

Podcast production 2) A weblog Here the students will upload their show as a podcast. They can also publish notes to accompany the show. 3) An RSS feed A subscription feed that supports 'enclosures' is available free at Feedburner. The feed is created by ticking checkboxes in a list.Feedburner 4) Space online to store the audio files (which they can get from Ourmedia).Ourmedia

Podcasts: Conclusion Final words

Conclusion Both listening to podcast audio and the creation of a podcast (eg. a radio show) can be highly motivating for the language learner.