A Beginner's Guide to Making

Radio and Podcasts in the EFL Classroom

Jennifer MacDonald
 Workshop Outline
 Theoretical Stuff (approximately 45 min.)
An introduction to writing, recording, editing and publishing
podcasts

 Hands On (approximately 45 min.)

We'll write, record and edit a short podcast together
 What is a podcast?
 Radio
In real time, broadcast over the airwaves
Ephemeral: If you don't hear something in the moment it's
broadcast, it's gone

 Podcast= iPod+Broadcast
A radio-style program recorded in a digital format (.mp3)
It can be listened to anywhere, at any time: on your computer,
on your iPod or MP3 player, on your mobile phone, etc.
 Examples of Student Podcasts

1) Red and Rock Radio:

Station ID - “The Best Station for Sports”

2) Red and Rock Radio:

Storytelling: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears

3) Bachiller Radio:
Breaking News: Car Chase!
 Red and Rock Radio:
Station ID - “The Best Station for
Sports”
 Red and Rock Radio:
Storytelling: Goldilocks and the 3
Bears
 Bachiller Radio:
Breaking News: Car Chase!
 A Theoretically Sound
Teaching Tool
 A project for task-based learning

 Could be used as a module in an English

class, or as a CLIL elective given in English

 Targetted skills practice: pronunciation,

vocabulary, writing, translation
 Brainstorming and Writing
a Podcast
 Think in terms of text, music, sound effects

 Range of content: news, review, report, feature,

documentary, biography, station ID, advertisement, radio
drama, educational podcast

 Writing for radio: read it aloud!

 Simple, short sentences, easy to pronounce vocabulary

 Writing runsheets, scripts

 What equipment is needed?
1) A microphone
Low budget option: Use students' mobile phones or mp3
players to record audio
 What equipment is needed?

2) At least one computer, with speakers and

headphones

Plug microphone into the jack on the back.

 What equipment is needed?

3) Make a USB key containing:

Free, easy-to-use sound editing software (Audacity)

Music, sound effects in .mp3 format

Folders to save students' work

 Sound Recording and Editing
with Audacity
 Free software available online

 Extensive knowledge base: forums, tutorials,

manuals, etc.

 Portable version: don't have to worry about getting

installation permission on school computers

 Multi-track recorder and editor: Records, edits

sounds, add music, mix tracks together
Demonstration of Audacity
 Publishing Podcasts
 In-class listening

 School Community: School PA system;

Upload to school webpage or school blogs

 On-line podcasting forums:

Podomatic.com: Privacy a concern
Case Study: Arrigorriaga Institute
 2º ESO Elective: English Media Workshop
Year-long course, 2h/week
Started with theory, writing for radio, Audacity
3 projects: News, a 15-min show, Radio Drama (Story or
Fairy Tale)

 2º Bachiller: English class project

1h/two weeks; Feb-May
Theory focused on learning Audacity
Projects included: documentaries, biographies, drama, “fake”
news, sports commentary
 Now it's our turn!

Brainstorm
Write
Record
Edit

A Radio New Bulletin!

 Useful Links
•Link to today's presentation on-line and my resources for
podcasting:
http://www.jennifermacdonald.ca
http://www.scribd.com/jennifermacdonald/shelf

• Download Audacity sound editing software:

Full version: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Portable version:
http://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/audacity_portable

• On-line Podcasting Platform:

http://www.podomatic.com

• Search Engine for sound effects online:

http://www.findsounds.com/

• Convert Youtube videos to audio-only files (mp3):

http://www.onlinevideoconverter.com