Perhaps I’ve just started to self-learn English and I’m a little skeptical about the actual benefits I’ll get from certain modes of study. I want to learn quickly, but I don’t want to waste my time if it won’t show any results. There are an overwhelming number of resources to sort through and some are avenues I’m unfamiliar with, like podcasts.
The support of podcasts is a toss up—some people find themselves immersed in the radio-like shows on a regular basis, while others haven’t had much experience with them. If you’re trying to learn English and fall into the latter category, it’s time to branch out and see how useful English language learning podcasts can be. How are they useful ? You ask? When learning a language, people are always told to expose themselves to as much of it as possible beyond the classroom. As a beginner, turning on an English television series or radio show can be overwhelming, but it is true that without this kind of exposure, you’re missing out on ways to improve.
When using podcasts, you’re exposed to conversations designed specifically for people on the course to learning English. These conversations are constructed so that they flow like natural ones, while accounting for the level of the speaker when it comes to vocabulary and speed. This one has three difficulty levels as well as a business English option.
Listening activities are important to English language acquisition because they introduce you to pronunciation, style of speaking, and slang terms—things that cannot be found in a textbook. When you listen, your ear begins to recognize how words are said and how they fit into natural conversations, and the flow of English speaking style is naturally ingrained. Many podcasts also make it a point to include slang terms and idioms in the dialogue, providing explanations either in the actual conversation or in accompanying resources, like this one.
The more you listen, the more you’ll remember. The ear is a resource that oftentimes people don’t think to use when learning a new subject, since books have been the prominent form of study for so long. Podcasts play on the ear and your brain naturally soaks up what is heard. The more you listen, the more you soak up. That’s part of the reason why full-immersion language acquisition techniques work so well—conversational forms of the language are heard constantly.
On top of the benefits, it’s convenient. Podcasts can be played in the car while driving to work, on your phone while working on the yard, and in the background as you get ready in the morning, to name a few. You don’t even have to set aside time to use them.
If you’re wary about jumping on the English-learning podcast train, don’t be. They’re simple, easy to incorporate into your daily life, and produce results. Give them a try, because yes, they do really help.
Photo Credit: William Brawley