Week 3: Podcasts and a new sunrise

I liked a lot the readings of this week about podcasts. I had a interesting reaction about the integration of technologies into language classrooms, but principally with the integration of podcast because I have noticed that podcasts can be a useful tool in teaching and principally in ESL. In addition, on the article called “Integrating CALL into the classroom: the role of podcasting in an ESL listening strategies course“ we can read that at the beginning podcasts were used just for do reviews of classes, but this has evolved and now are used to teach foreign languages. We can find some advantages like the fast use of podcast through mp3 or CD player, a better integration and relationship of syllabus with podcast and selft-study. Despite that, in the article “Blending technologies in ESL courses: A reflexive enquiry” is described how for some students the podcasts are not important or they do not like or care so much. As well as we have to add that there are some hindrances that podcast has yet, such as insufficient time, lack of institution development, not owning or little access to players etc.

 I always have believed that podcast can be useful to develop listening and speaking skills and I have believed that this can be bored or few attractive for some students as we could read in the article. For that, I think is necessary be updating this tool and made podcast more attractive for as many as possible students. Something that I wanted to share with a colleague are the podcasts. I think podcasts are important tools to help students to learn a language faster. Although podcast have some disadvantages, I think they have more advantages that can be useful for some colleagues on classes and I hope take advantage of them on my future classes too. -Score: 4.