Using Podcasts

You do not need a iPod or other mp3 player to listen to podcasts. You can download the iTunes software on your personal computer for free and listen to them. For many of these podcasts, you can listen directly from the websites as you read the transcripts and other supplementary materials.

Listening with iTunes

Using iTunes:
The easiest way to subscribe to podcasts (see example below for the ESL Podcast from the Center for Educational Development) is to download the free iTunes software (both Windows and Mac). Follow these steps:

  1. Click here to go to the download site for iTunes. Download and install iTunes on your computer.
  2. After you have installed iTunes on your computer, just search on the Podcast page of the iTunes Music Store for “English as a Second Language.”)
  3. Click on the Subscribe button.
    iTunes will then ask you if you want to subscribe to this podcast. Click Subscribe and the most current podcast will begin to download into iTunes. When it is finished downloading, it will begin playing!

How do I download a podcast to my computer or MP3 player?
The easiest way to is to subscribe to the podcast with free software such as iTunes.

You can also download the individual files from our website:

  1. RIGHT-click on the Download button. (for Mac: CTRL-click).
  2. For Internet Explorer: Select Save Target As... (for Firefox: Save Link As).
  3. When you see the Save box, note where you are saving it and click Save.
  4. Find the downloaded file and double-click it or import it into your computer's audio player.

ANNOTATED ESL PODCASTS LIST

English Help Desk

http://www.eslhelpdesk.com/

Go to iTunes and search under podcasts “English Help Desk” to subscribe or go to the website and download individual programs for help with grammar structures (website has a quick link for immediate download)

Better At English

http://www.betteratenglish.com/

Better at English: Free English lessons to help you learn English vocabulary, idioms, slang, grammar, and more! You can listen to the audio files on the website (and read the transcripts) or subscribe to the 2-minute podcasts on iTunes.

ESLPod.com Guide to the TOEFL Test

www.eslpod.com

This weekly podcast is for learners who are studying for the TOEFL exam. The podcasts include lectures or longer conversations with a discussion afterwards about the vocabulary, grammar, etc. The discussions are very detailed. Other podcasts include helpful advice on taking the TOEFL. The easiest way to subscribe is to go to iTunes/iTunes Store and in the podcast section, type “ESL TOEFL” and click on the title above. You can also go to the website, althgou

Splendid Speaking

http://www.splendidspeaking.com/community/listen.html (download the interviews or subscribe to Splendid Speaking through the iTunes icon on this page)

These are interviews between non-native speakers of English on various topics. Each interview looks at a particular speaking skill and ends with feedback on the student's performance, including comments on the speakers’ vocabulary and grammar skills. Listeners can test themselves at finding errors in the students’ speaking. Transcripts can be downloaded as well.

Just Vocabulary

www.justvocabulary.com

This daily podcast is all about learning new English words. If English is your second language, or you are serious about improving your English wordpower, this podcast will help you to improve your English vocabulary. Daily!

Podictionary

http://www.podictionary.com/

Subscribe to this podcast and receive a new word daily, along with its history. The chosen words consist of slang words and their history (e.g. “lousy”), words you may have never heard of (e.g. “boffin”), and common words with interesting background (e.g. “yes”).

The Word Nerds

www.thewordnerds.com

For more advanced learners, this is a 30-40 minute podcast about language and language change. This podcast is for students who are interested in word origins. For example, “Food Metaphors” was a recent topic which consisted of talking about several idioms in English related to food. There is also a “rude word of the week”, many of which can be quite explicit.