Pedagogiczne nauki

INTEGRATION OF PODCASTING INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Tatyana A. Pastushenko, Irina N. Sokolova, Diana E. Sartauova, Yliya S. Eskova

Karaganda State University after E.A.Buketov

Nowadays the general idea of the Internet and Internet technologies have become an integral part of human culture. Every year the number of connected users increases. Among them there are many students who are active participants in online communities. In this situation the teacher who does not own the Internet technology risks to become uninteresting to his/her students. Convenience and flexibility of the material presented by the Internet, on-line access to information located in different countries, the high efficiency of updating and other advantages of Internet technology demonstrate the need for their introduction into the education system.

The majority of Internet users begin with searching for information and e-mailing. These are the most obvious and most common Internet services. However, for effective teaching of foreign languages in the real world, this approach is clearly inadequate.

The main currently existing in cyberspace technologies, which can be actively used in learning a foreign language can be divided into two groups: 1) the means of synchronous communication and 2) the means of asynchronous communication.

When we deal with synchronous communication, the Internet is the means for communication in real time (chat, video chat and audio chat.). Examples of such means capable of synchronous communication via chat and voice calls are Skype (http://skype.com/) and Yahoo Messenger (http://messenger.yahoo.com/).

Asynchronous communication is when the Internet is used for the means to exchange information with a time delay (forums, e-mail, audio, websites, blogs, wikis, ...). Blog - this site page provided in the form of journal-diary or calendar, in which the information is in chronological order. Aaron Campbell identifies three types of blogs used in the teaching of language courses:

• The tutor blog: supported by a teacher;

• The class blog: supported by the joint efforts of teachers and students;

• The learner blog maintained by the student individually.

Among the blogs there is a special type - audio blogs, or so-called podcast. Podcast is a separate audio file, or a regularly updated series of such files that are published at the same address on the Internet.

Podcast (Podcast) - is short for podcasting, which comes from the words iPod and broadcasting (broadcasting). Podcasts, for the most part, are distributed on a subscription basis and provide an audio or video files for listening on your computer or any player that supports mp3, mp4, or any modern standard. The content of most popular podcasts are most similar to the issues of radio. However, the main difference between a podcast from a live broadcast that by downloading the latest release, you can listen at your convenience in comfortable surroundings.

Appeared relatively recently (in 2004), podcasting, gaining more listeners who use podcasts for different purposes, including training. It is used in the blogs of people from different countries to communicate and share any information. It has been estimated that in 2006 podcasting use 10 million people, and by 2010 it is expected to 60 million listeners. The word "podcasting" is not only formally included in the Oxford dictionary (New Oxford American Dictionary), but also received an award for word 2005.

Technically, podcasting is nothing revolutionary - in fact, a simple implementation of the multimedia content (audio or video) in the RSS-feed. But in terms of its features, podcasts, in fact, is a synthesis of the advantages of Internet and radio (and sometimes - TV) and now it is clear that in the near future podcasting will have a significant impact on our lives.

The fundamental difference from other methods of podcasting distribution of digital audio and video, as mentioned earlier - is its standardization of protocol-based RSS. Standardization makes it possible to unify created by different authors of the program irrespective of the their content. Having a single format for audio and video is the key factor that determines the success of podcasting and a growing number of listeners and creators of podcasts. Another equally important feature is the dynamic nature of podcasting, that is, the frequency or serially programs. This is unlike a one-time publication of any multimedia materials. Another important reason is the wide dissemination of podcasting is that all programs are essentially free to participants, and the procedure for subscription is very simple. The presence of these characteristics of podcasting, which remarkably attractive for authors and for the audience, in turn, has stimulated a meaningful diversity and richness of existing and continuing to appear podcasts.

To show the effectiveness of the new features, you first need to consider ways in which people receive information. Channels are widely known - it's television, radio, print media and the Internet. The latter occupies a significant proportion, and, deservedly so: thanks to the Internet have a huge selection of information sources, among which we can select the appropriate topics as well as the volume and get information at any time when there is a possibility.

So, podcasting takes the best from two well-known methods of communication: Internet and radio. Users can subscribe to their interesting episodes (podcasts) and listen to them on demand at any time and any place.

Thus, we can say that podcasting - a very serious phenomenon with a very short but very eventful history. Just in Russia, he makes the first steps and to the west is perceived as a full channel information. Very many media outlets have broadcast in the format of podcasting: ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, NPR, MTV, Discovery Channel, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NewsWeek, MSNBC and others.

The most ideal platform for the introduction of podcasting in the learning process is learning a foreign language. Moreover, one can even speak about that in the process of learning foreign languages may be the fullest possible development of the potentialities of this technology, because the language as a means of communication in this context is both an object of study. A number of current research in the field of foreign language learning suggests that language acquisition is much faster, if students receive a wealth of information at a limited number of those whose number is gradually increasing thereafter. In addition, it is noted that regular listening of the text has a systemic effect on all his other skills, including the total literacy and the ability to not only accept but also to speak in the target foreign language.

Speaking of podcasting as "a hybrid of radio and the Internet", to be extracted from him a great favor in the process of learning a foreign language as a powerful advanced multimedia learning tools. Podcasting is very easy to handle. Authentic audio and video information is a constant stream. It can listen in real time or stored on any media, up to a mobile phone, which can be repeatedly reproduced. And this is a clear advantage in the goal of education - the formation of communicative competence.

To teach students to understand the sounding speech - one of the most important learning objectives. If the lesson the teacher does not use audio recordings, even if the teacher is a native speaker and fluent in speech, his students are unlikely to be ready for the understanding of speech that sounds outside the classroom. Proper use of the same audio may contribute significantly to the preparation of students for real communication situations and to remove the difficulties. Without the mastery of such activity, like listening, you can not learn the language and use of foreign language speech at a level that is necessary for modern society.

Podcasting technology is very effective for the development of listening skills. First, the audio material offered podcasts, then you can download and use in the classroom several times with any kind of job, and secondly, students are offered the opportunity to listen to native speakers. Podcasts are good that allow you to "get used" to a "foreign language". They are also convenient - no need to go and check regularly the site for updates, because you can subscribe to the podcast. Podcasts best to take on interesting subjects. The technique, in which students listen to different texts repeatedly calling for their interest topic, promotes deep and meaningful understanding of the language being studied. This technique requires a gradual change that results in an extension of linguistic competence in general.

Integrating podcasting into the learning process:

• allows students to develop listening skills and reading;

• provides real unlimited audience for student work that increases motivation and responsibility for the content;

• introduces students to network resources, which offer many interesting and useful information on topics under study, with which the student solves the problem the teacher;

• stimulate discussion of issues and debates in the target language outside school

There are different types of podcasts:

• authentic podcasts, files from the recording of native speakers;

• podcasts created by teachers for their students;

• student podcasts.

More and more educational content created and published as a podcast, and the teachers and students have direct access to the authentic audio and video material. Many Internet sites carry out special programs for people who are learning English. One of these sites is the Voice Of America (VOA) special English (http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/index.cfm). On this site are placed various new stories about the U.S. and other countries. Stories are easy to read and understand. Every day, VOA also houses audio podcasts with their daily news. These podcasts are read not a lot slower than people say in real life, that gives a better speech understanding than at a normal pace. Audio files are provided with texts. You can listen to the first text and then read to learn the "right" is understood they had heard.

Site Podcastinenglish (http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/) also includes podcasts for English learners. Three difficulty levels (elementary, lower intermediate and intermediate and upper intermediate). The number of podcasts are not very big, but all contain himself for the podcast you can listen to as both the site and upload to a computer, a sheet with exercises and answers, scripts, exercises on vocabulary.

The next interesting site - EslPod (http://www.eslpod.com). This site and podcasts are located on it, created a nonprofit organization "Center for Educational Development" in Los Angeles, California. Doctor of philological sciences Lucy Tse writes lyrics and writes many of the dialogues and stories for a variety of issues. Doctor of philological sciences Jeff McQuillan - author of a podcast, and its leader. Both of them - a professor of applied linguistics and teaching for many years and read English as a second language for students of several colleges and universities. The basic idea of ESL Podcast is that each issue, which lasts 10-20 minutes, divided into three parts:

• The dialogue or story, read a little slower than normal spoken language.

• An explanation of complex or unfamiliar expressions and phrases.

• Repetition of dialogue or story with a speed familiar to native speakers.

This structure helps the listener to podcasts is to improve the perception of English speech, by listening to conversations and discussions of interesting topics.

Podcast TOEFL Podcast (http://www.toeflpodcast.com/), dedicated to teaching English, in many ways exemplary. TOEFL Podcast aimed at developing the skills necessary for students to pass the exams TOEFL or IELTS. This podcast allows you to develop skills in listening and speaking, listening to native speakers, discussing topics, which are also often offered in examination tasks. Precious moment in preparation for the above exams is familiar with the idioms of English language skills and use them correctly in speech. TOEFL Podcast created by a professor of applied linguistics, who has extensive experience in teaching English as a foreign language in U.S. colleges and universities. On this authority can subscribe and receive new information every week.

The structure of each of the audio program, consisting of 4 parts of a total duration of 10-20 minutes, the following:

1. Dialogue in slow motion. This part is a small part of the conversation or lecture, which can be heard in U.S. schools. The text spoken slowly enough to be able to hear and understand new words from the context.

2. An exhaustive explanation of key phrases and expressions used in this conversation. The author reveals the meaning of expressions in detail, citing examples.3. The repetition of dialogue in a natural pace. The student listens to the dialogue again, but at a pace that is offered on the actual exam, and you can hear in a real situation.

4. Questions on understanding the dialogue. After listening to the dialogue and two-time analysis of key words and phrases the student asks questions to test his understanding listen to the conversation. For each question, proposes a set of answers. Then the answer is given, which is accompanied by comments on why he is the right one.

Each audio program is accompanied by a commentary in the form of the full text of the dialogue with the release explained in her expressions. Thus, the TOEFL Podcast due to multiple variations of presentation of the same reaches the desired educational effect.

Very different from the previous podcast, entitled "English Idioms and Slang" (http://www.englishcaster.com/idioms/), which is a set of very short release, each of which describes one of the commonly used English idioms.

And the latest example of an educational podcast - "English Teacher John Show" (http://www.englishteacherjohn.com). The owner of this resource is John Koons, an English teacher from Philadelphia is currently working in Matsumoto, Japan. In this podcast, John teacher uses a wide variety of educational techniques: listening to the dialogues of native speakers, the description of unknown words and idioms, listening to songs, talking about world news and more.

Teachers can easily create their own podcasts with the daily homework assignments and post them on the web-site with a stream of RSS. Students can subscribe to this thread at home and sync their tasks, taking them with you wherever you go. Audio blogs offer great opportunities to teachers: the teacher can write down any his speech on the site using the site facilities, as well as to place the sound files recorded in other programs, but in MP3 format.

Students, in turn, can create and publish content to their teachers or other students. Thus, podcasting does not imply participation of teachers only. In their creation can and should be actively involved and the students themselves. Student participation, not least, motivated by the fact that the teacher is not always possible to individually work with students in the audience, and their self-study for various reasons, difficult to control. In this regard, the use of advanced technology such as podcasting in extracurricular work would lead to higher academic achievement. In fact, with such mutual work is an active student perception of teaching material: they create their own podcasts, listen to both teachers and other students. It could be the performance of specific tasks, and reflections on heard topics. Particularly relevant with the existence of such an approach different levels of language groups, when you have to focus on the average listener, which suffer from weak and strong students. Regular creation of podcasts the students the teacher would provide an individual approach in the educational process, and students gain confidence and the opportunity for growth, which in general would improve the quality of education.

The integration of ICT into the educational process inevitably leads to a revision of the place and role of the teacher in this process, whose main objective is not to transfer knowledge and skills, and abilities, and stimulate interest, motivation for learning a language, help in learning and creative research.

In these circumstances, inevitable revision of the existing organizational forms of today, the principles and methods of training: the tendency to increase the proportion of independent individuals and groups of pupils, away from the traditional lesson, with a predominance of explanatory and illustrative teaching methods, increase the practical and creative work of search and research character.

Internet technologies are designed to promote the development of individual educational ways and the content of educational material to individual needs of trainees, their level of knowledge and skills.

References:

1. Gonzalez, D. Teaching and learning through chat: a taxonomy of educational chat for EFL / ESL http://www.iatefl.org.pl/call/j_review15.htm

2. Stanley, G. Blogging for ELT. - British Council, Barcelona. http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/resources/blogging.shtml

3. Myatin E. Podcasting - the synthesis of the internet and radio http://www.ixbt.com/

4. Stupin TL basics of using podcasting in the educational process: guidance. Irkutsk: NEEDLE, 2006.