Podcasting & Language Learning

Following a tip off from Graham Stanley experienced EFL podcaster and blogger from The British Council in Barcelona, I joined an interesting round table discussion tonight on Podcasting & Language Learning hosted by Scott Lockman. The two hour session was part of TESOL Electronic Village Online 2007 and was recorded in Flashmeeting by The Open University.

You can watch the video and read the text chat highlights here. Enjoy!

Here is a summary of the conversation:

• housekeeping and saying hello
• backgrounds and expectations for the meeting
• recommendations for different mp3 players and recording quality
• using web services for recording and uploading audio like Odeo, Springdoo, Podomatic and Vaestro
• pupil motivation to use blogging and podcasting to communicate with real audiences
• recording Skype conversations and pupil interviews for use in podcasts
• creating a community through blogging
• exchanging podcasting projects with partner schools
• finding suitably motivating topics to blog and podcast about with your pupils so they gain ownership of their learning
• being committed and finding the time to gain the necessary technical skills
• the benefits of using video tutorials
• gaining a sense of achievement getting used to recording audio with Audacity, mp3 players and services such as Podomatic
• recording to practice pronunciation and peer assessment
• making audio comic strips and using Photo Story 3
• podsafe music such as Flashkit loops
• becoming more automous and finding interesting podcasts to listen to from the target language and creating supporting activities
• deciding whether to use a transcript or not
• podcasting instead of lecturing
• comprehension problems of recording lectures live for EFL/ESL students
• intensive listening to podcasts and creating transcripts as a student exercise
• adding subtitles to YouTube clips with Mojiti or MovieMaker
• using KeepVid to download video resources for offline use in the classroom
• keeping your student's interest with video blogging /vlogging
• having a conversation through webcam messages uploaded to YouTube
• finding foreign language video clips on iTunes and adverts through PubsTV
• joining a Yahoo! Group to meet like-minded colleagues with similar ideas
• raising cultural awareness with authentic video clips
• hosting video and audio clips on a blog using Blip.tv
• social bookmarking with Del.icio.us to orgainse your favourite websites
• producing video tutorials for use in class based on the Videojug website and authentic vlogs
• co-hosting and signing up for The EFLbridges World Conversation Club
• the advantages of using either Skypecasting or Flashmeeting and coping with unwanted visitors
• the difference between Mac and PC versions of Skype
• keeping students safe by avoiding security breaches and opening ports with Flashmeeting
• scheduling a Flashmeeting by setting up a pre-approved account
• being able to use Flashmeeting with a 56K connection including visuals
• playing video in play mode with a camcorder through Flashmeeting
• managing editing time by organising a lunchtime podcasting club
• how podcasts help pupils learn
• practising pronunciation by students recording and listening themselves before making a final podcastable version
• making the purpose of your podcast clear
• coping with compatibility issues and quality settings of different mobile recording devices
• playing back recordings made in class through an inbuilt speaker, cassette adaptor or radio frequency
• increasing motivation and pupil interaction by creating a podcast for a real audience
• The Royal Grammar School eTwinning example and the eTwinning conference in Brussels
• saying our goodbyes

See also Valentina Dodge's written and spoken response to the meeting here.

Comments

[Berta]

Hi Joe, I am a participant at OWP and came to check out your site. It is an excellent very helpful resource. Although I try to keep a bit updated, I have not done much in class with my students because of lack of facilities for all. Thanks so much for sharing,
Berta from Venezuela in Toronto on sabbatical.

[Joe Dale]

Hi Berta,

Thank you for your Wonderful Treasures post here:
http://itwilldefinitelywork.blogspot.com/2007/02/wonderful-treasures-joe-dales-blog.html

Nice to virtually meet you yesterday in our Flashmeeting chat.

Best wishes

Joe

[Graham Stanley]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for joining us for the Flash Meeting, which was a lot of fun. If you want to join our Yahoo Group, please do so - people are talking about your blog, and some of the links you gave us on Saturday

[Joe Dale]

Hi Graham,

Thanks for dropping by. I've signed up to the Yahoo Group following your advice and look forward to taking part in future discussions.

Best wishes

Joe

[Ilan]

I would also like to recommend you have a look at BubblePLY, which is a video tool that lets you create subtitles, add links in videos, images, cliparts and much more. You can visit us here - http://www.bubbleply.com

[Joe Dale]

Hi Ilan,

Thanks for this. It looks really interesting.

Joe

[Amanda]

I am a language teacher and I am wondering if you know of any site where I can get in touch with other teachers who want to use Skype in the classroom and set up an exchange.

[Joe Dale]

Hi Amanda,

You could try using the service Mixxer which is designed to set up links between language learners. I've not used it myself, but it seems interesting.

Have a look at this post for more details:
http://joedale.typepad.com/integrating_ict_into_the_/2006/09/the_mixxer_onli.html

You could also ask the same question on a forum like Linguanet, MFLresources or TES MFL Staffroom.

Good luck!