Introduction

The idea behind our podcasts and site is simple: students who are interested in football and want to learn English can combine the two. By focusing on a topic they like, they can use top-down knowledge which acts as a framework for more detailed study of the language. A learner who is interested in the content of the target language should be more successful

Football is a natural narrative and its story develops each week, building on what went before. This provides added structure for the learner as they can use what they know about the ’story’ to support their learning.

Main features include:

There are two podcasts: A ‘Full’ Podcast (about 20 mins) and a Learners’ Podcast (about 8 minutes). They both have:

• Authentic listening: the podcasts are delivered in natural speed, with no ‘graded’ language. The podcasts feature real-life stories from the world of football

• Football is a natural narrative that students can easily follow

• The Learners’ Podcast and the Full Podcast follow the same format each week: the Learners’ Podcast has an introduction, a main feature, and an English phrase

• The show has a theme to it each week

• There are two shows a week, one shorter than the other

• As the content is authentic, it may be difficult for lower-level learners. In this, case teachers can adapt the tasks from the workheets, use shorter segments of the shows with transcripts

Read more about languagecaster by reading an article published in The Language Teacher (October 2007)

Suggestions on how to use this site
Teachers are free to use the site as they wish but here are a few ideas for you.

1. By downloading the Learners’ Podcast each week, students are able to read the transcript while listening to the show. This can be done either directly on an iPod by clicking the centre of the wheel twice, which will show the transcript, or by downloading the transcripts from the site (they are at the last page of the worksheets). Higher level students may want to try the ‘full’ podcast
2. Each podcast has a worksheet that the students can download from the site that focuses on the main piece from the show. Each worksheet contains the answers and the transcript of the report that is featured on both weekly podcasts.
3. There is a vocabulary list with explanations of meanings and examples for each show.
4. There are online crosswords and quizzes that review/preview the vocabulary from each week’s show.
5. In addition to the main report on the show, there is a weekly football expression (English for Football or football cliché), which can be listened to here.
6. Students can also read about football as each week a group of fans write about their particular team or league.
7. Have the students explore and critically review the site with this worksheet.pdf

Contact
If you have any comments about the show or the site
If you have any suggestions for the show or the site
If you would like to blog about your favourite team or player
If you would like to participate on the show in any way
If you have any difficulties with site or downloading the podcast

Then contact us as at: admin@languagecaster.com

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