Teacher-generated podcasts: Teacher-generated podcasts: Why? How? Is it worth it?Why? How? Is it worth it?

Alec McAulayAlec McAulay

Yokohama National UniversityYokohama National UniversityContact: Contact: tokyomcaulay@yahoo.co.jptokyomcaulay@yahoo.co.jp for a full list of references for a full list of references

Why?Why?

How can I get my students to study English outsiHow can I get my students to study English outside of the classroom?de of the classroom?

Podcasts for native speakers: difficultPodcasts for native speakers: difficult Podcasts for ESL/EFL: uninspiringPodcasts for ESL/EFL: uninspiring

JALT-CALL 2007: Plenaries, June 2007JALT-CALL 2007: Plenaries, June 20071.1. Levy: “…how technologies are used to solve problems anLevy: “…how technologies are used to solve problems an

d how important it is to separate the hype from the realitd how important it is to separate the hype from the reality.”y.”

2.2. Harada: “…using technology to facilitate student learning fHarada: “…using technology to facilitate student learning for themselves, by themselves and/or among themselves.”or themselves, by themselves and/or among themselves.”

JALTCALL 2007 (Tokyo)JALTCALL 2007 (Tokyo)

Harada: “Students are interested in me, and in eaHarada: “Students are interested in me, and in each other.”ch other.”

Campbell: Flickr for low-level learners provides Campbell: Flickr for low-level learners provides “[a] focus on content that is personally meaning“[a] focus on content that is personally meaningful.”ful.”

Walker & Kawana: Blogs as a simple but effectivWalker & Kawana: Blogs as a simple but effective organisational toole organisational tool

All: All: The potential for interaction!The potential for interaction!

Teacher-generated podcast: rulesTeacher-generated podcast: rules

keep the concept keep the concept simplesimple

keep it relevantkeep it relevant make it accessible make it accessible

for all proficiency for all proficiency levelslevels

encourage encourage interactioninteraction

work with known work with known softwaresoftware

don’t spend moneydon’t spend money don’t spend too don’t spend too

much time on itmuch time on it evaluate language-evaluate language-

learning outcomeslearning outcomes

ynu5photosynu5photos

a. Interview people about 5 a. Interview people about 5 photosphotos

b. Keep it under 10 minutesb. Keep it under 10 minutes

c. Stream into 5 levelsc. Stream into 5 levels

d. Authentic languaged. Authentic language

e. End users can comment/ e. End users can comment/ interactinteract

f. Students can be f. Students can be intervieweesinterviewees

How? How?

1. find interviewees1. find interviewees 2. carry out interview2. carry out interview 3. scan photos3. scan photos 4. edit/ convert with iMovie4. edit/ convert with iMovie 5. upload to YouTube5. upload to YouTube 6. create worksheet6. create worksheet 7. upload to Savefile.com7. upload to Savefile.com 8. upload photos to Flickr8. upload photos to Flickr 9. post all the info on the blog9. post all the info on the blog

TOTAL: 2-4 hoursTOTAL: 2-4 hours

Is it worth it?Is it worth it?

Class 1 (39s): CompulsoryClass 1 (39s): Compulsory Class 2 (27s) & 3 (16s): VoluntaryClass 2 (27s) & 3 (16s): Voluntary One class session in the CALL lab (Oct One class session in the CALL lab (Oct

2007) introducing ynu5photos2007) introducing ynu5photos

Some issues from the CALL lab class…Some issues from the CALL lab class…

Computer literacyComputer literacy

‘‘Sign up’ vs ‘Sign in’ (Flickr)Sign up’ vs ‘Sign in’ (Flickr) ‘‘Subscribe’ (Savefile)Subscribe’ (Savefile) ‘‘Activate’ (Savefile)Activate’ (Savefile) ‘‘Re-type’Re-type’ Yahoo.com vs Yahoo.co.jpYahoo.com vs Yahoo.co.jp ‘‘download file now’ (Savefile)download file now’ (Savefile) Students email with mobile phones, not compuStudents email with mobile phones, not compu

tersters Student aversion to English-only sitesStudent aversion to English-only sites

Self-accessSelf-access

Number of students from Classes 2 & 3 using tNumber of students from Classes 2 & 3 using the podcast (N=43)he podcast (N=43)

11Willing (1988): I like to study English by myself (alWilling (1988): I like to study English by myself (al

one) - 3% (N=517)one) - 3% (N=517)Wacholtz (2003): I like working alone in the classrWacholtz (2003): I like working alone in the classr

oom - 78% (N=134)oom - 78% (N=134)

Intergrated use (Class 1)Intergrated use (Class 1)Four students who have completed the required woFour students who have completed the required workload:rkload:Definitely continue using - 1Definitely continue using - 1

Will continue if teacher checks - 3Will continue if teacher checks - 3 Listening 5-6 times to each podcast Listening 5-6 times to each podcast Content is familiar and interestingContent is familiar and interesting Listening ability has improvedListening ability has improved Want the answers and/or scriptWant the answers and/or script Can’t rewind on YouTubeCan’t rewind on YouTube

Littlewood (1996): a. Asian learners expect teachLittlewood (1996): a. Asian learners expect teachers to assess learning b. motivated to do languers to assess learning b. motivated to do language tasks with clear practical valueage tasks with clear practical value

Is it worth it (teacher)?Is it worth it (teacher)?

Brown (2007): Brown (2007): Extensive Extensive listening in EFL listening in EFL (N=48)(N=48)

Reading only: 40 %Reading only: 40 % Reading-while-listening: 58%Reading-while-listening: 58% Listening only: 2%Listening only: 2%

Lack of IT support on Lack of IT support on campuscampus

The benefits of CMC The benefits of CMC versus face-to-face versus face-to-face communicationcommunication

TimeTime

Closing comments: Closing comments: trends and directionstrends and directions

Structured, semi-structured or unstructured (“the answers”)?Structured, semi-structured or unstructured (“the answers”)? Potential for interaction: domestic, international?Potential for interaction: domestic, international? Better worksheets?Better worksheets? Error correction?Error correction? ynu5photos: In its infancy, or time to let the sun go down on this ynu5photos: In its infancy, or time to let the sun go down on this

one?one?