Sessions /
The why and how of teacher created podcasts #116

Podcasts have become ubiquitous in all aspects of modern life, including the English language classroom. It seems as though there is a podcast for just about every person’s areas of interest. There are, of course, a plethora of podcasts made specifically for English learners. But what if there are no podcasts that serve the needs of your students? Maybe their interests and abilities do not align with anything available to them. In this presentation, I will discuss the reasons for making a podcast specifically tailored to your students' needs and interests. I will also discuss some of the practical aspects that go into making a podcast, including basic equipment needed and internet resources needed. I will also share how I have used the podcasts I have recorded with my students for extensive listening practice. As many Japanese students may be unfamiliar with podcasts in general, I plan to share ways I have helped my students learn how to access and best utilize the podcast format on both their phones and computers. Podcasts need not be limited to students at an intermediate level and above. I will show you how to get past the initial hurdles of getting started. Getting started might seem like a daunting task, but with just a little help, anyone can be a podcaster.