How to Use Podcasts for English Learning
We have a special post today from my new friends Lindsay and Gabby from AllEarsEnglish.com. They recorded a special podcast for the ESL Basics community to teach you how to integrate podcasts into your English language learning process. Head over to AllEarsEnglish.com to learn more about their podcast and other resources or check out their Facebook page.
So, here is the podcast followed by an outline of what’s discussed in the podcast…
Hey everyone! We are Lindsay and Gabby from the All Ears English Podcast and we are happy to be here today! Today we want to show you how you can use a podcast to improve your English!
- Build a Daily Habit by Listening to a Podcast: With a podcast, it’s easy to make English listening a daily habit. Just subscribe to a podcast on your smartphone, put your headphones in, and listen on your way to work, on the train, while you’re walking to the bus, or even while you are in the grocery store! Build momentum by doing a little bit every day. This will give you a mental edge and more motivation. You will feel like you are moving forward and you will improve much faster.
- Listen First, then Speak: Children learn their native language by listening for months before they even try to speak. Don’t put pressure on yourself to speak right away. Try to listen first by absorbing the sounds of English and taking in new words. When you listen first, don’t worry about understanding every single thing that is said, just get the general idea if you can and do your best. Learn to relax with the sounds of English.
- Try Shadowing: Listen first, then speak. Gabby recommends doing this the second time that you hear a podcast episode in English. Check out the example of shadowing in our audio clip! Shadowing helps with pronunciation and helps you build confidence with your vocabulary.
- Interact with the Podcast: Don’t learn by yourself! Practice the skills online that you learn while listening to the podcast. Become a part of a huge online community. Engage with other learners and the podcast hosts in interesting conversation and discuss key topics with other English learners.
Again, check out their website at AllEarsEnglish.com as well as their Facebook page.
