Innovative Ways to Integrate Podcasts in Online Learning

Starting a podcast is more accessible than ever; all you need is a microphone and a computer. From enthusiasts and experts to teachers, business leaders, students, and comedians, people from all walks of life are sharing their voices. Whatever your interest, there’s likely a podcast out there covering it!

Did you know that Spotify boasts an impressive 3.2 million podcasts? While the sheer volume can feel overwhelming, it also ensures that there’s a perfect podcast out there for everyone, no matter your interests!

In this guide, we’ll delve into the exciting world of incorporating podcasts into your online English language lessons. Whether you’re a podcast novice or have dabbled in them before, you’ll discover the numerous advantages of using this medium in your teaching. We’ll also provide you with innovative classroom activities that will make learning engaging and fun!

How do podcasts help students learn? 

Podcasts offer an engaging and versatile learning tool suitable for various language proficiency levels. They can enhance your students’ language skills across the board, including listening, reading, writing, note-taking, and speaking. By incorporating podcasts into your lessons, you can create a dynamic and interactive learning experience.

A simple search on Google or Spotify will reveal a wealth of excellent resources for ESL students. However, don’t limit yourself to just these options! Many additional materials created for the general audience can also be highly effective in your online English classes.

Here are other benefits of podcasts in the classroom: 

Podcasts can help to engage learners

Podcasts are available on virtually every topic imaginable! They offer a fantastic way to connect with your students’ interests, covering subjects like sports, history, politics, movies, celebrities, and business. The options are truly limitless!

Podcasts expose learners to authentic language 

Unlike traditional language learning material that has been created for teaching purposes, many podcasts are authentic content. 

Incorporating authentic materials in the classroom can significantly boost student motivation. By interacting with real-life content in English, students can see their ability to connect with the language in practical ways, making their learning experience more relevant and engaging.

Moreover, authentic podcasts immerse students in a variety of accents and dialects, featuring both native and non-native English speakers from around the globe. This exposure offers a valuable opportunity to improve listening comprehension and reinforce language skills in an engaging way.

Most podcasts are free and easily accessible

Finally, one of the best aspects of podcasts is that most of them are completely free! Easily accessible online, they offer convenience and simplicity, making them a fantastic resource for tailoring content to suit your classroom’s specific needs.

Here are several compelling reasons to incorporate podcasts into your classroom. Their dynamic and diverse nature makes them suitable for all age groups and skill levels, offering a rich resource for engaging learning experiences.

Creative podcast activities in the classroom for students

Wondering how to incorporate podcasts into your classroom? Start by considering how to effectively deliver the audio content to your students. For online classes, you have two great options:

• Share the podcast link with students and encourage them to listen on their devices during or before class. For effective strategies, refer to our article on teaching ESL online, which covers the flipped classroom approach for English learning.
• Play the audio content to the class as a group during the lesson. 

After you’ve determined the best delivery method for your class, consider incorporating these engaging podcast activities specifically designed for ESL students:

1. Pronunciation exercises 

Enhance your students’ speaking abilities through targeted pronunciation exercises. The focus is on helping learners actively listen to important words, practice their repetition, and identify any pronunciation mistakes. Consider implementing these strategies:

• Choose a podcast that is suitable for the class level. 
• Pick out the keywords that you want to highlight and write them on the virtual board. 
• Tell students to listen out for these words and how they’re said. 
• Finally, have students repeat the sounds and correct any errors in pronunciation. 

For learners at a lower level, consider providing them with a transcript. This allows them to read along while listening, helping them to identify and focus on key vocabulary.

2. Bite Size gap fill activities

Engaging, quick gap-fill exercises are not only enjoyable for students but also hassle-free for teachers to set up! Here’s how you can get started:

• Select a short podcast extract of no more than a few minutes.
• Edit the transcript by omitting specific vocabulary or phrases and creating gaps for students to complete.
• During the class, play the audio and ask students to fill in the gaps. Play through twice if necessary. 
• Once complete, have students retell the complete podcast to the class. 

When teaching lower-level students, consider writing a list of target words on the board for them to listen for as they fill in the gaps. This not only guides their focus but also enhances their listening skills. To elevate the challenge, add some “distractors”—words that aren’t in the podcast—to encourage critical thinking and improve their listening comprehension.

3. Dictogloss activities

A dictogloss is an engaging dictation activity where learners listen to a short text and jot down key words. Using these notes, they reconstruct the original text, enhancing their listening and writing skills. Podcasts serve as excellent tools for dictogloss exercises, providing rich auditory content for practice. Let’s explore this further!

• Use a short podcast transcript to run a regular dictogloss (approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute in length). 
• Read the transcript aloud to the class, encouraging students to focus on listening and comprehension. Pose brief comprehension questions during the reading or share them in the chat box beforehand.
• Then, read it again but ask the students to take notes and write the key vocabulary they hear. 
• Next, ask students to attempt reconstructing the text in small groups. 
• Then have them listen to the real podcast in full, check their answers and correct. 
• Finally, provide the transcript for them to check their versions. 

This is a great activity to test a range of language skills and engage learners!

4. Project work

Engaging in project work allows students to explore podcasts as a dynamic learning tool. By using podcast content as a foundation, you can create a resource hub that empowers your students to develop their own presentations. Here’s how to effectively incorporate this approach into your online lessons:

Class one:

• Work with your one-to-one student or put your class into small groups, depending on the size of the class. 
• Encourage students to brainstorm topics of interest for further exploration, such as the suffragettes, fair trade, or space exploration.
• Next, ask them to choose one topic. Then, help them find a podcast that covers their topic of interest. 

Top tip: for lower level learners, provide a selection of podcasts for them to choose from.

Class two

• Approach the podcast as you would any listening exercise: Utilize the transcript to highlight challenging vocabulary, then create guided pre-listening and comprehension questions. For group activities with various podcasts, repeat this process as needed.
• Ask students to listen in groups or individually at home.

Class three 

• Instruct students to prepare a presentation, such as a PowerPoint or Google Slides, to share their topic with the class.
• Their research will be based on what they hear in the podcast and then what they can find online. 
• They’ll need to summarize the content, and include key vocabulary from the listening. 
• Give students the opportunity to work on the project in class or as homework. 

Class four

• Finally, once complete, have each group present their work to the class. Allow time for questions and feedback. 

Each step of this activity will build your students’ listening, speaking and writing skills.

5. Narrow reading

“Narrow reading” refers to the practice of concentrating on a specific topic by exploring a variety of related materials, such as a collection of texts about the environment. This approach is beneficial for language learners as it deepens their understanding of the subject and reinforces frequently used vocabulary.

Incorporating podcasts into your classroom can enhance reading tasks and boost student engagement. After completing a reading comprehension activity focused on a specific topic, consider following up with a relevant podcast episode. This not only reinforces the material but also enriches the learning experience.

Try this:

• Either choose a reading from a student’s textbook or a news article, blog or other reading material. 
• Discover a relevant podcast that matches your learners’ levels, and provide a transcript for them to follow along as they listen.
• Then, pick out key vocabulary, have a class discussion about the podcast, or ask some comprehension questions. 

Reading enhances literacy skills, and pairing it with a podcast creates a richer, more dynamic learning experience. This combination not only brings the subject matter to life but also boosts students’ confidence by showing them they can comprehend a complete topic through various formats.

6. Self-study tasks

Podcasts can be a fantastic supplement to your lessons, but they don’t need to be integrated into classroom time. Students can enjoy them independently whenever it fits into their schedule. For instance, if your class has been exploring climate change, consider recommending a relevant podcast that they can listen to at home to deepen their understanding of the topic.

You can enhance comprehension by preparing a specific set of questions for them to answer after listening to the audio. Alternatively, consider having them summarize the content in the next class, encouraging active engagement with the material.

No matter what activity you select, integrating podcasts into your learners’ self-study can effectively enhance their vocabulary and reinforce classroom material. This approach not only makes learning more engaging but also helps students retain and apply what they’ve learned.

Best language learning podcasts 

Wondering what podcasts are the best for language learning? Here are some of the top podcasts for learning English: 

BBC’s 6 Minute English offers engaging six-minute podcasts specifically tailored for ESL learners. Each episode dives into intriguing topics like “The Benefits of Boredom,” “Welcome to the Metaverse,” and “Robot Artists.” To enhance the learning experience, every podcast is accompanied by a complete transcript and a curated vocabulary list, making it easier for listeners to follow along and expand their language skills.

English Pronunciation Pod is an excellent resource for learners looking to improve their pronunciation skills. It offers a variety of sounds that users can listen to and practice repeating, making it an effective tool for mastering the nuances of English pronunciation.

“Overheard at National Geographic” is an excellent choice for advanced learners passionate about the natural world! This captivating podcast showcases engaging discussions with explorers, photographers, and scientists, uncovering the fascinating and often bizarre aspects of nature.

The Guardian’s *Today in Focus* dives into the world’s most urgent topics, sparking engaging conversations and lively debates. With a primary emphasis on current events, politics, and social issues, it provides listeners with insightful perspectives on what matters most today.

Are you feeling motivated to teach English online through podcasts? Join LingualNeeds and kickstart your tutoring career while unleashing your creativity!