Podcasts as an Educational Tool in Schools- English lessons

Podcasts can be an excellent educational tool in schools, helping students develop language skills, critical thinking, and concentration. Here are some reasons why they should be used in lessons, such as in English language classes:

1. Improving Listening Comprehension

· Students become familiar with different accents and the natural pace of speech.

· They practice understanding authentic conversations with native speakers.

· The difficulty level can be adjusted—from simple dialogues to advanced materials.

2. Learning New Vocabulary and Phrases

· Podcasts feature natural, contemporary language that students may not find in textbooks.

· Many educational podcasts offer transcripts, making it easier to understand difficult words.

3. Boosting Student Motivation and Engagement

· Podcasts can be chosen based on students’ interests (e.g., sports, gaming, travel).

· They are more interactive than traditional exercises—students can discuss the content.

4. Supporting Individual and Group Work

· Students can listen to podcasts as homework and prepare a short summary.

· In class, they can share their impressions and discuss key phrases.

5. Practicing Pronunciation and Speaking Fluency

· The shadowing technique (repeating sentences after a native speaker) helps improve pronunciation.

- Fun fact: Shadowing involves mimicking a speaker's speech as closely as possible, like a "shadow." This method was developed by American professor Alexander Arguelles, a polyglot who speaks over 50 languages.

· Students can create their own podcasts—recording short conversations or reports.

 Check our free online resources at www.podcast-your-school.eu.