I’m hoping it’s lucky that my first day blogging coincides with the inauguration of Barack Obama. Good luck to him and me – although he’ll need a lot more than me.
We have two friends who have been a source of inspiration for starting a website: Graham and his blog Noodlepie, and Ben with Notes from Spain. Ben then branched out to podcasting for Notes in Spanish and he hasn’t looked back, both he and his wife have given up their day jobs and are professional bloggers / podcasters. Why is it though that the concept of blogging has taken over the world (every man, woman and dog it seems is a blogger) whereas podcasting continues to puzzle? I would say most people I speak to, either in the UK or abroad, say they have no idea what a podcast is. Richard, after his successful talk about podcasting for IATEFL in 2007, is still being asked to write articles for English teaching magazines to explain what podcasting is (most recently for the TESOL-Spain newsletter) and how it can be used in the classroom. What’s that all about, eh?
Then I realised that, although I’m a podcaster myself, I don’t listen to any podcasts! I avidly read a range of blogs but I honestly can’t recall listening to a podcast other than other efl ones (the competition!) I’m trying to work out why that is – perhaps it’s something to do with not being able to listen for gist. It’s easy to use all those reading skills on a blog – I can glance at the heading, any pics and read a few sentences and decide instantly if the blog’s worth reading in more detail. But with a podcast that’s more difficult, right? Especially if it’s long – which many of them are. However many words in an article I can read as little or as much as I like, and at any speed. With a podcast that’s not possible. You can do it with songs – I recently had to choose a theme song to go with a video I’d made. I had a CD with hundreds of songs to choose from but it was quite easy to listen to the start and then fast forward to get an idea of whether the song was suitable. But if a couple of people are chatting away you really have to listen to it all – and that I don’t find very appealling somehow. However interesting the topic seems I don’t want to put 20 minutes aside, even if I can listen and do somethig else at the same time. All things to bear in mind when preparing podcasts for learners of English of course… and I wonder if this is one of the reasons why blogging is more popular then podcasting.
Faggots from Noodlepie
January 25th, 2009 - 1:34 pm
As the only ‘commuting’ I do is from the bedroom to the study (via the kitchen and bathroom of course!) that’s not going to work for me! I assume you know Ben’s Spanish site I referred to, Brian?
And why not have a try with some of the podcasts on our site for your learners…
January 25th, 2009 - 11:45 am
I agree. It’s much easier to read than listen. However I do listen to podcasts – on the train to work. It’s just a matter of getting into a routine – putting aside a regular time each day when you’re not going to be disturbed by anything else. Podcasts download automatically on my computer overnight and then it’s ready to load onto my mp3 player first thing in the morning ready for my commute.
However, I don’t use podcasts as a teacher (I’m a teacher of English) – but as a learner (of Spanish) and I think they’re great!
January 27th, 2009 - 8:09 pm
I know Ben’s site – fantastic. but I worry that he is one dude who spends far too much time staring into a little fluorescent screen. He should get out more. Does he have agoraphobia?
March 6th, 2009 - 9:01 pm
Hi Jackie
I started podcasting because I started listening to a very short podcast in French as I went for walks. One day it hit me……my French listening skills and my pronunciation were really improving. And it was effortless. So I decided to start making podcasts for my students last September. They can really fit into adult learners schedules easily if they are very short and a little slower to help build a sense of accomplishment. Anyhow I have to agree that it’s just a matter of getting into the habit of doing a little listening every day.
Having said that, I am beginning a blog with my students this week to encourage them to write more. Happy podcasting and blogging!
March 6th, 2009 - 9:51 pm
Hi Leslie
The same thing happened to me! I was teaching in France and would listen to the news every morning and it all went over my head when suddenly I realised I understood what was being said! Nor everything but a significant amount, and yes my pronunciation was improving too. I often tell my students this and really try to get them to listen a little bit everyday – esp as they’re not in an English speaking environment. It really works! Good luck with your podcasts – I tried the link but it didn’t work.