Using podcasts as a source of native English expression
Many radio stations provide podcasts of some of their regular talk-radio shows. The following ‘lesson plan’ provides some structure for English students to work on their auditory comprehension skills (and to build vocabulary) by using this (often) free resource. (see a short list of such audio resources below)

Note that there is sometimes a long introduction to the radio show before the interesting text begins. If you’re planning to transcribe a podcast, take the time to identify the beginning of the interesting content which is sometimes 10-30 seconds into the podcast.

Here are several roughly 2-minute-long podcasts from KQED’s ‘Perspectives’ radio show* – public commentaries on various subjects:

* Teach Your Children Well (mp3, 1.3 Mb)

* Promised Land or Last Resort? (mp3, 1.4 Mb)

* Memorial Day (mp3, 1.4 Mb)

Here are some roughly 8-minute-long podcasts from WNYC’s ‘Fishko Files’ – a personal essay on music, art, culture and media:

* What Can I Say? (mp3, 3.2 Mb)

* Cultural Exchange (mp3, 3.5 Mb)

And a selection of longer radio essays on various topics:

E.g. from Newsweek Magazine Online

* How Your Shoes Can Hurt You (mp3, 8.3 Mb)

* Why Women Worry More Than Men (mp3, 6.5 Mb)

How to Access the Sound File:

To listen to this right now, simply click on the link above and it should open and play automatically in your computer’s default media player.

To download it and save it to your computer, right-click on the link above, then save it to your desired location. Later, click on the mp3 file you’ve downloaded and it should play automatically using your computer’s default media player or possibly, in your browser.

Suggested Approach:

1. Note the title and make sure you understand the meaning of all the words. Try to guess what the content of the podcast might be about. Think of your own experiences that might relate to the apparent topic. If possible, discuss your ideas with others (in class or among friends).

2. Don’t worry about understanding everything immediately…the speaker may speak very rapidly and might not pronounce all words clearly. That’s OK. You will listen to this several times.

3. First listen to the whole piece without stopping or pausing it. Listen for the main ideas and any words that you recognize. Don’t write while you’re listening.

4. After listening, note down any words or expressions that you heard and remember. Try to relate what you heard to the title. Try to summarize for yourself–very briefly–what the piece is about (you may not be able to). If possible, discuss what you understood with others…and listen to what they noticed that you may have missed.

5. Second listen: listen to the whole piece again without stopping (especially if you had a chance to discuss the ‘first listen’ with others). Try to build upon what you already know. Note down any new words or expressions that you heard. Try again to summarize the main points.

6. Transcription:

- Choose the part of the piece that you wish to transcribe. (Do at least 4-5 sentences…and do more if it suits you.)
- Listen to the selection one phrase at a time, using the ‘pause’ and ‘rewind’ functions of your media player. Write the phrase, leaving blanks for the words you’re not sure about. Listen again. You may need to re-listen to a short phrase several times before you can understand the words. Use your logic. Think about what the meaning of the expression probably is (in your first language) before you listen again to a difficult part. Move on to a new phrase if you can’t figure it out after 2-3 tries. Come back later, once you’ve gained more information from subsequent phrases.

7. Check your transcription with others, i.e. a native speaker of English such as your teacher or another student. Note new words, expressions and grammatical structures; look them up or ask a native speaker about them.

…

*A short list of audio resources

KQED’s ‘Perspectives’ radio show (each podcast is about 2 minutes long; You’ll hear many different voices from the San Francisco Bay Area in California)

NPR (National Public Radio) podcast directory (a huge index of possible radio shows from all over the US; easy to search by title, topic, radio station…)

MAKE – Technology on Your Time Sign up for their podcasts which are often audio + video. Nice if you like to see what someone is talking about! One example is Blinky Bugs, about building simple little blinking robots.

Car Talk (Car Talk is very funny and the hosts have thick Boston accents; this one costs money, however…currently $3.95/show. Purchase through Audible which sells audio recordings of magazines, newspapers, radio broadcasts, and books…all copyright-protected.)

Newsweek Magazine Online e.g. Newsweek Newsminutes — 1-8 minute world news reports — Listen online or download a recent podcast. Mainstream US media stories and accents

New York Public Radio (WNYC) – Podcast directory of locally produced talk radio shows (most of these broadcasts are long and speakers don’t necessarily have NY accents)

Listen to Live Radio on BBC …especially BBC 4 with many possible types of shows and where you can also subscribe to some podcasts, e.g. Radio 4 Choice currently providing a weekly documentary for download.