Iraima Prieto. Sample. Learning Technologies for the Classroom Courses. Second cohort. 2011 (June-July)

1. How podcasts can improve
students´ listening skills
Iraima Prieto
Learning Technologies for the
Classroom Course – British Council
June 4th. – August 21st.

2. Podcasts are:
• Digital audio files easily
downloaded and played
either on a computer or
on a portable device
(MP3 player, Ipod, etc.)
• Updated regularly
• Easy to access & to
subscribe to.
• Copyright free for
classroom use.
• Often free of charge.

3. Podcasts are great for developing
listening skills because:
• Audio texts usually structured
in 3 sections (beginning,
middle & end).
• Short listening activities.
• Possibility of seeing the level
of difficulty.
• Students´ exposition to
natural models of speech or
to graded language.
• Additional material for
teachers to teach extensive
and intensive listening skills.

4. My reflections
• I found this topic extremely
interesting because listening
comprehension is one of the
aspects that is less developed
in our business courses.
Podcasts provide teachers with
the opportunity to expose
students to different sorts of
authentic language in an
asynchronous way to enhance
their listening skills.
• What I have learned regarding
podcasts is already helping me
a lot, especially the part of
podcast material evaluation
and the concept of doing tasks
while and after listening.