This time it wasn't so difficult to understand what the new tool, introduced by Sarah during the Lab's lesson, is and how it is supposed to be used.
At last, "podcast" has joined our BloggingEnglish and it has already produced it positive effects.
But, what is a PODCAST??
It's a multimedia file (audio or video) distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds. These files can be downloaded onto computers and mobile devices, like mp3 players, so that we can listen to and watch the podcast whenever and wherever we want. I already knew what a podcast is before the lesson of last week, because my "hi-tech" friends shown me this wonderful tool sometime ago and try to explain how to use it as well. But, I want to be sincere... up to now I've never thought about the possibility to use podcast to improve my English skills, downloading English materials. And now, while I'm surfing the net, I'm discovering huge and incredible numbers of sites and podcasts to practice my listening skills. I want to share this material with us. Here below I describe 3 podcast that most have caught my attention:
- The first is the BBC's podcast, I have already use it when I created my personal social bookmarking; however, I think that this site is multifunctional. In my opinion every English student should download in his mp3 player a "radio" in English to constantly be informed about what happens around the world. Its URL is http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/globalnews/;
- Then I was curious about the fact that some Universities, like Stanford or Duke in the United States, as Sarah informed us, offer many lectures online in the form of podcast. So I try to visit one of their sites, and... Surprise, surprise... it's true!!! Entering in those sites, you can download courses, faculty lectures, interviews, music and sports and than play this material onto your iPod or pc. Think a minute about that... it's great!!! You have the possibility to follow in videoconference, lessons or other activities and to see how foreign universities work...oh, oh...stop a second... my head is spinning!!! The URL is http://itunes.stanford.edu/;
- And finally I decide to find some useful podcasts to improve my English pronunciation. Many times I find myself in difficulties because I don't know how a word must be exactly pronounced. So, don't worry... now podcast can make your English study easier and quicker. One of those sites is http://howjsay.com/. (I've noticed that also Alberto, one of my peers chose it. Well-done, Alberto!!)
5 commenti:
Hi Alessandra!!
All your suggestions are involving and useful for us!
I visited the site concerning online lectures because I was interesting in it, too. I had some difficulties to understand how the site was structured and how I could listen to podcasts, can you only download the files? I didn't managed to listen to anything :-(
Hi Alessandra!
You really did a very good job, in my opinion...
I appreciated the BBC's podcasts very much. We all can learn something of the world around us and, in the meanwhile, improve our listening skills.
The BBC is always a guarantee of quality.
I didn't understand very well how your second website (that about university lectures) is structured, too!
Don't worry, I'm definitely sure I don't see something evident...(my armistice with technology is always precarious...
See you!
Hi Alessandra!
Unfortunately like Claudia and Alberto I wasn't able to open and download anything from Stanford site... What a pity! It must be very interesting!
I had a look at the third website you suggested and you are right...It's important to know the correct pronunciation of the words we come up with!
I also appreciated the BBC podcast...It's great!
C u!
Bye bye
Laura
Hi Alessandra,
from what I read I assume you had fun looking for these podcasts, don't you?
You did a great job, and you chose three very interesting websites! I think the problem we have with the Stanford site is that probably we don't have iTunes, and we need to install it!(at least that is the problem I had...)
I think I'll download something from the BBC site, as Alberto pointed out it is always "a gurantee of quality"!
I saw some mistake in your writing, I hope you don't mind if I let you know...
"how it must be used"
Probably must is a bit strong here, what about 'it is supposed to be used'?
"can be downloading"
"I must to be sincere"
these 2 are obviously due to a bit of distraction or you were just tired after your web searching!
"so that we can listen and watch"
unfortunately you always have to use the form 'to listen to', this little word must be added every single time (I forget it too very often)
"I already knew what a podcast was"
you knew what a podcast is (now, then, and...in the future!!)!
"hot to use"
"and than play this material"
trivial tipyng mistakes!
"a huge and incredible numbers"
a number, even though it is huge!when you use indefinite articles you have to keep singular form!;)
"this site is a multifunctional one"
or simply this site is multifunctional, easier, isn't it?
"I find myself in difficulties"
I didn't know this expression, and looking for it I only found 'To find oneself in difficulty' (sing), but it is not very common...
Anyway, thanks for your useful podcasts, I'll add to mine!
See you on Monday!
Claudia
Hi Alessandra!
I had the same problem of our peers in trying to dowload something from the Stanford site. I agree with Claudia. The problem is that we haven't iTunes. You chose the BBC site. It's very useful,isn't it? We can find a lot of great tools to improve our skills. I use a lot this site but I never came across bbc podcasts. Thanks to our activity now it's easier to listen to bbc news every day.
Bye
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