English as a Second Language Podcast

Overview

The purpose of English as a Second Language Podcast is to teach English by using everyday phrases and expressions spoken at a slow rate of speech, followed by explanations of what these expressions mean and how to use them. Learners access the lessons for free on the website or via a piece of podcast/RSS feed software such as iTunes. ESL Podcast uses a pedagogical approach based upon research in second language acquisition focusing on providing comprehensible input in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

ESL Podcast is intended for intermediate and advanced English learners and consists of three weekly episodes: two dialog-based episodes (Mondays and Fridays) and the longer, culturally-focused English Café (Wednesdays). Dialog-based episodes contain a slow reading of an exchange in conversational English, followed by an explanation of the key vocabulary, and then a native-rate reading of the same dialog. The English Café typically covers two major topics of cultural importance to learners of American English, followed by a short question-and-answer segment based on listener input.

Since 2005, ESL Podcast has released more than 1000 self-contained episodes. It is not a traditional course, with a beginning and an end, and there are no quizzes or exercises. The episodes are not sequenced but are based on a set of broad themes from which the learner can choose, such as English for business, travel, daily life, health and fitness, shopping, and more.

Supplementary materials are available for each lesson in the form of an 8-10 page PDF Learning Guide, available to subscribers of the podcast for a fixed monthly fee. Like other popular language podcasts such as ChinesePod, ESL Podcast uses a "freemium" business model, where the audio files are provided for free but the supplementary materials require a paid membership.

Hosts

Both of the co-founders of ESL Podcast received their Ph.D.s in applied linguistics at the University of Southern California in 1997. Prior to joining the Center for Educational Development, Dr. Lucy Tse worked as a tenure-track university professor at Arizona State University, California State University, Los Angeles, and Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Jeff McQuillan was a tenure-track professor at Arizona State University and California State University, Fullerton. They have each appeared on CNN, and have been cited and published in numerous regional and national publications, included the* Los Angeles Times*, Los Angeles Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.

Popularity

Stories or features about ESL Podcast Latin America, Asia, and Europe. iTunes Japan named ESL Podcast one of the Best 20 podcasts in Japan in 2007. ESL Podcast has consistently been ranked the number one English language learning podcast in iTunes since its launch in 2005, and among the Top 20 podcasts for all categories in several European, Asian, and Latin American countries with a dedicated iTunes Store in 2011.

References

References

1. McQuillan, Jeff. (2006). "Tuning into podcasting: Language on the Go". International Journal for Foreign Language Teaching.
2. Walch, Rob. (Fall 2006). "Podcast411". Item #95: Interview with Jeff McQuillan, ESL Podcast.
3. McQuillan, Jeff. (2006). "The iPod in Education: Potential for Language Acquisition". Apple Computers.
4. Zilm, Kerstin. (4 September 2009). "Englisch per Podcast: Sprachenlernen mit Humor". Deutschlandfunk (German National Radio).
5. Bala, Rostislav. "If you can't understand it, you can't acquire it: Interview with Jeff McQuillan". výuka.jazyků.cz (Language Learning).
6. Sturm, Constanza. (20 December 2007). "Internet desata fiebre por aprender ingles, aleman y hasta chino de manera gratuita". Diario Financiero (Chile).
7. Walker, Kevin. (2011). "How to Get Your Message Out Fast and Free Using Podcasts". Atlantic Publishing.
8. (2006). "Tricks of the Podcasting Masters". Que Publishing.
9. McQuillan, Jeff. (1998). "The Literacy Crisis: False Claims, Real Solutions". Heinemann.
10. Tse, Lucy. (2001). ""Why Don't They Learn English?": Separating Fact from Fallacy in the U.S. Language Debate". Teachers College Press.
11. Krashen, Stephen. (1998). "Heritage Language Development". Language Education Associates.
12. (December 2016). "English as a Second Language Podcast". Center for Educational Development.
13. Bierma, Nathan. (24 January 2007). "Plug in, dial up, learn a foreign language". Chicago Tribune.
14. Vargas, Alejandra. (23 February 2009). "Podcasts gratuitas facilitan el aprendizaje de idiomas". La Nacion (Costa Rica).
15. (28 March 2006). "Podcasts for Learning English". Nan Fang Daily (China).
16. Templer, Bill. (5 June 2008). "Let students master plain, simple English". The China Post (Taiwan).
17. Manetto, Francesca. (2 December 2006). "Todos los idiomas en el bolsillo". El Pais (Spain).
18. "ESL Podcast Named One of iTunes 'Best of 2007' in Japan". Center for Educational Development.
19. Stanley, Graham. (2006). "Podcasting: Audio on the Internet Comes of Age". Tesl-Ej.
20. "iTunes Rankings for Education Category". Apple, Inc..