PODCASTS

Podcasts are a useful tool for improving our English.

But let's start by explaining what is a podcast: According to the Wikipedia, "A podcast (or non-streamed webcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. (...) The mode of delivery differentiates podcasting from other means of accessing media files over the Internet, such as direct download, or streamed webcasting. A list of all the audio or video files currently associated with a given series is maintained centrally on the distributor's server as a web feed, and the listener or viewer employs special client application software known as a podcatcher that can access this web feed, check it for updates, and download any new files in the series. This process can be automated so that new files are downloaded automatically. Files are stored locally on the user's computer or other device ready for offline use, giving simple and convenient access to episodic content."

As we said above, podcasts are a useful tool for improving our English because there are thousands of podcasts in English available for free which you can download and put into your iphone, ipod or mp3 or 4 and listen to them, especially when you are going to work, to the faculty, on the tube, etc. 

One easy way of finding interesting podcasts easily is in the itunes program. If you do not have an ipod or iphone, don't worry, you can download it anyway.

So, download the program, install it into your computer and once you have it, go to the itunes store and look for podcasts. Choose: audio podcasts. Scroll down the page and look for the section named "outstanding supplier". There you will find the links to BBC, CNN, The Wall Street Journal among others. 

BBC has a wide repertoire of podcasts. You can find podcasts which talk about the English language (Talk about English, The English We Speak) and others that talk about history (A History of Mozart in Dozen Objects, A History of the World in 100 objects, Secret History of Social Networking,etc) among others. 

We specially recommend the one called 6 minutes of English  because they are usually interesting and short, so you do not get bored. However, we invite you to inquiere into this program and find the podcasts which most interest you. It's very easy and interesting!