Podomatic proves popular for podcasters in the 24/7 MFL Classroom

Langwitch a. k. a. Helen Butterfield from Ian Ramsey CE School in Stockton-on-Tees has created a beginner's guide to the wonderful world of podcasts as a PowerPoint presentation which she has published on SlideShare along with a beginner's guide to the wonderful world of weblogs.

Divided into small manageable steps, Helena explains:

• what a podcast is
• why we should be podcasting as language teachers
• how to create a sound file using Audacity
• how to turn a sound file into a podcast using Podomatic
• how to add your podcast to iTunes so others can subscribe to it

Helena who runs two podcasts Langwitches and Ramsey Deutsch is not the only language teacher who has found that Podomatic is an easy way to get into podcasting. Aurélie Charles from The Robert Napier School in Kent for example has just started out with her RNSMFL2007 podcast. James Pearson from Helston Community College in Cornwall has been producing resources for his Spanish students and publishing their own work too. The results have been impressive. See links below:

• Helston Community College's Spanish Pod
• Helston Pod Grammatica
• Podcasting with JimmyP
• Podcast Winners for TES Newsday

I particularly like the Comic Life Photo Story of Don Kyle's visit to the school. Genius.

James also gave a presentation on using PowerPoint 'to get rid of the textbook' at last week's SSAT Toolkit session along with Chris Fuller whose three hour slot on blogging produced some fantastic examples, apparently (according to Chris!).

Finally, Lynne Horn who spoke at last year's Isle of Wight Conference launched Tobermory High Language Podcasts only yesterday and she is justly proud of her pupils first effort. Rightly so.

Why not follow Langwitches' example and try out Podomatic for yourself? You could then join the wonderful world of podcasts and have a 24/7 MFL classroom too! See more examples from this earlier post if you need anymore convincing.

Comments

[Langwitch]

Hi Joe,
Thanks for the encouragement. I couldn't have done any of it without the help that you give here and on MFL Resources.
Helena

[Lynne]

Thanks Joe - trying to upload a couple of interviews my seniors did with our French Assistant at the moment, although Podomatic seems a bit slow at the moment so may need to wait until tomorrow.