Subscribing to a podcast

Download iTunes at http://www.apple.com/itunes/.
Click on ‘Podcast’ on left menu bar
Click on ‘Podcast Directory’
To learn more about a podcast, click on the title. If you want to subscribe, click on ‘Subscribe’ and the most current podcast will be downloaded to your iTunes together with titles of previous podcasts. If you want to download previous podcasts, click on ‘get’
Robert L. Fielding

A poem for my students

I know what it is to be young

by

Robert L. Fielding

I know what it is to be young.
For though you may not think so,
I was once as young as you.

I laughed at the teacher if he tripped up,
Or if his chair fell over, tipping him forward.
I knew how to keep him talking,
So that the end of the lesson came quickly.

I know what it is to be young,
To feel sleepy right until the bell.
And then run out happy the lesson is over.

I know what it is to be young,
Pulling faces behind the teacher’s back,
Not to be rude to him,
Just because he is old and we are not – yet!

Podcasting

Podcasts in the classroom

Two teachers from Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey, gave an informative, lively workshop on the use of podcasting in the language classroom at TESOL ARABIA last weekend.

“Podcasting,” according to the BBC, “is simply an automated form of MP3 downloading”, which helps a lot.

However, the two presenters quickly and clearly outlined the advantages of podcasting; URLs can be sent via pc to other users, without the need for lengthy downloading of files or giving students listening tapes or CDs.

With an iPod, the teacher can download extensive, often authentic listenings, real news broadcasts and debates from universities and then play them back in class as the basis for a project, for example, and since both visual and printed text are also quickly and easily available, podcasting looks like it’s here to stay – until the next gismo comes along at least.

Downloading iTunes enables teachers and students to gain access to a plethora of material that is both current and varied. Here are some of the podcasts teachers can exploit.

BBC – In our time (great for historical topics)
Living on Earth (covers environmental issues)
The New Scientist (excellent reports on science topics)
NPR: Books (interviews with authors – graded readers)
BBC Women’s Hour (interesting and varied topics on many different subject areas)
ESL Podcast (great tips for communicating)
ESL for TOEFL students (plenty of practice before those exams)
Podictionary (listening activities and vocabulary development)
English Banana (basics for beginners with lesson handouts
Bardwell Road Centre Podcast (podcasts for English students made by students)

NB: All the above can be found easily on Google.

For more anything more specific:-

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/help/podcasting.shtml (a list of everything on BBC)
http://www.podzinger.com/ (Search engine for podcasts)

Other Links

1. http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/itunes/it1-1.html. This link has both written directions and a video for how to install iTunes. The video also shows some of the basic features of iTunes.

2. http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/itunes/it5-1.html. This link has both written directions and a video for how to subscribe and listen to podcasts.

3. Sabancı University Podcast

http://www.sabanciuniv.edu/do/eng/?PodCast/PodCasts.php
Robert L. Fielding