Pow!: Empowering second language learners using podcasts

The recent emergence of podcasts as a means to listen to and learn about any subject, for free, and in any location via portable media player or computer, has captured a world-wide audience. This workshop aims to bring the same motivation to ESL teachers teaching any level and in any context, looking at how both teacher and student can use a podcast directory to search for appropriate listening material in terms of level and content, and then use that material to create listening tasks to develop and improve students’ English and content-knowledge. Participants will briefly learn what podcasts are, have the opportunity to experience different ways to exploit podcasts for classroom and self-access use through four stages of a podcast project, and discuss how podcasts can be used in their educational environment. Finally, the presenter will give access to the tools necessary to subscribe to podcasts, and provide useful podcast links and accompanying materials.