If you or your students subscribe to ESL-Library’s podcast, please update your subscription with this new link. Our first 40 podcasts have been added to the new podcast. Our NEW ESL-Library podcast has ten more episodes! A new one will be added every Wednesday: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/id431945503
Are you wondering how you can use podcasts in the ESL/EFL classroom? Check out Russell Stannard’s video: How to use iTunes in the Classroom: “You don’t need an iPod.”
If you are a teacher, here are some ideas for using our podcasts in class:
1. Download the episodes and play them in class.
2. Stream the episodes in class from your computer or computer lab.
3. Pair the episodes with the related lesson from the ESL-Library (membership required).
4. Assign episodes for homework and discuss the content in class as a warm up the following day.
5. Use the episodes with the students you tutor. Listen together and discuss.
6. Ask students to memorize a paragraph from an episode and share it in class. (These mini-podcasts are about two minutes long.)
7. Have students debate about one of the discussion topics.
8. Use an episode for a listening test or quiz.
9. Download previous holiday lessons to use at the appropriate time.
10. Preview the files to see if the content of ESL-Library interests you. If it does, why not subscribe to the site? You will get access to hundreds of professionally made lesson plans and thousands of hand-drawn flashcards.
If you are a student, here are some ideas for using the podcasts at home or on the road:
1. Write the words that you hear (dictation). Pause the recording as often as you need to.
2. Listen to the word stress and intonation and try to mimic the same pronunciation.
3. Look up any words you don’t know and record them in your vocabulary notebook (Have you thought about using a Google Doc?)
4. Have a Skype discussion about the topic with an online friend.
5. Write an essay about the discussion topic.
6. Use the topic to write a TOEFL or TOEIC response (speaking or writing).
7. Listen to one file before bed every night. (Maybe you will dream in English.)
8. If you have an iPod or MP3 player, listen to the podcasts in your car or during your commute (instead of the radio or your music).
9. Record your own voice talking on the same topic.
10. Paraphrase what you heard, and write it in a blog post.
Do you have any requests for podcast content from our library? Do you enjoy these mini sound files, or do you wish they were longer? We think it is important to keep them short and sweet, but would love your feedback. If you have ideas for using podcasts in the classroom or for your own English learning, please leave a comment. Feel free to share links to any other podcasts that you use. Don’t forget to write a review for us. Thank you!