What is a Podcast?
According to www.podcast.com, a podcast is “a buzzword to describe a very simple concept: an audio or video file available on the Internet for you to listen to and/or watch. A podcast can also refer to a series of these audio or video files (similar to how a TV or radio ’show’ can be a series of shows or just one show). When using the word ‘podcast’, most people refer to the entire series and not just one audio or video file.”
What is so special about that?
At first glance, the definition seems to fit every single audio file which has been posted on the internet during the last couple of years, but a podcast is more than just a file on the internet. For example: one can transfer it to a computer which makes it available whenever one needs it. Additionally, one can subcribe to a podcast of his/her interest, manage it, or even create ones own podcast. Also, the content of a podcast can be almost anything: news from your favourite sports club, your favourite music group, or even world news in general.
Where to find them
A podcast is not hard to find. If one wants to listen to or watch a podcast in English, one can visit various websites which offer one a wide range of podcasts. The difficult part is to figure out which podcast suites ones wants and needs. When the perfect podcast is found, one can subscribe to it and be informed about new content weekly.
English-lesson Podcasts
As the search for an appropriate podcast may take awhile, the teacher should either give the pupils the opportunity to search on their own (after setting some guidelines for them) or suggest several suitable podcasts. It would not be recommended to use the advanced english podcasts before 10th grade, as it would frustrate the pupils when the English is too hard to follow or understand. Although some websites do offer podcasts meant for kids, which should be easier to understand.
When working with podcasts from grades 10 to 13, these podcasts could either contain information about the lessons’ topics (which sometimes might be hard to find) or contain news on current events.
Podcasts for the class-room
http://amateurtraveler.com/ –> News from travelers around the world
http://www.npr.org/templates/topics/topic.php?topicId=1032 –> A podcast about literature from National Public Radio
http://www.cnn.com/services/podcasting/?eref=newscast –> CNN Podcast (including CNN student news)
http://www.worldsoccerdaily.com/ –> Podcast about Football
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=1870&cmd=tc –> Podcast about the TV series ‘Family Guy’
http://123listen2me.com/ –> Podcast for kids by kids (depending on learners’ level, this may be appropriate for younger pupils too.)
May 8, 2008 at 6:51 am
Good work, Rieke, thanks, I’m just testing the CNN podcast, good choice
Reinhard Donath
May 8, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hey!
Nice Blog on Podcasts. I really like the structure of your blog. Reminds me to keep mine short as well
. Your idea of using podcasts for Y10-13 with topic-based contents is fine. Nevertheless, I would say even Y8-10 can work with didactically edited podcasts, too.There are some fine podcasts for young learners on the web (check my blog if you are interested).
Cheers,
Constantin
May 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hi Rieke
good job! Enjoyed to read it and will try some of these links later on…
May 8, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Hi Rieke,
Thanks for your informative blog on podcasts. Actually, I have always wondered what distinguishes podcasts from other multimedia files available on the internet; now you’ve cleared that up for me. It was good to have the links too. Actually, I’m a bit sceptical about the value of the podcasts I’ve seen so far for use in the classroom, but I guess if the pupils create their own that might be a good learning process.
May 8, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Well done!
You provide some nice insights into the world of podcasting, well structured and comprehendable. I will keep your blog entry in mind when writing my own. Thanks!