Podcasts are audio or video digital media files that are often produced as part of a series. When a podcast is created as a series, it can be easily subscribed to using an RSS aggregator. The use of an RSS aggregator allows podcast episodes to be automatically downloaded to a teacher or student device. This is advantageous, as teachers and students are not responsible for repeatedly checking for new episodes, they will download automatically when ready. Notifications can be set up as well to alert the user to the presence of a new podcast. Podcasts can be a very useful tool in the ESL classroom. Podcasts can be created by the instructor for ESL students who struggle with following the pace of in-class discussions, created by the ESL student to show understanding of key concepts and necessary skills such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking, or podcasts not created by the instructor can be listened to by ESL students to help solidify critical English language skills.
The article I read this week ( "Research Makes Robots Better at Following Spoken Instructions" ) does not directly reference anything that has to do with ESL students. However it made me think about the directions I give in class and how my ESL students may perceive them. One thing I find myself doing constantly (for all students not just ESL students) is repeating directions. Whether students did not understand the directions initially and need further clarification or whether the student was not paying attention and has no idea what I just said, I repeat myself constantly. I have tried to combat this by always having printed directions or directions posted on the board but still the problem persists. Enter technology. With easy recording ability, technology now allows me to create “How-To” videos before class starts and share them with my students. Instead of waiting for all students to quiet down and verbally explain the instructions in-front of the class, my stude