节目资讯
刊物:生活知识家
日期:2009-03-20
难易度:Medium
关键字:equipment, hook up, flourish, imaginable, TECHNOLO
Hi, friends.
Welcome back from the break.
We are in the Studio Classroom learning about podcasts.
Now like the World Wide Web, the world of podcasts can be a little overwhelming.
There’s just so much stuff out there.
But with a little searching, I think everyone can find something of interest.
And remember, podcasts are not just entertaining.
They’re educational too.
Let’s finish up the rest of our lesson by previewing two words.
The first is the verb:
flourish,
as in:
Because Peter waters the flowers every day, they have really flourished.
The second is imaginable.
This store has shirts in every color imaginable!
OK.
We’re still on page thirty-six, but now we start in line ten.
Please follow along in your magazines.
Podcasting Power.
Why do podcasts?
Like radio, podcasts are a form of audio media,
and some podcasts are very similar to radio shows.
But other types of podcasts have developed as well.
Podcasts can focus on almost any topic.
The podcast Grammar Girl, written by Mignon Fogarty, provides answers to
specific English writing questions.
Language-learning podcasts have flourished,
allowing one to learn almost any language imaginable.
Other uses for podcasts include audio city tours and training classes.
But the biggest reason, by far, to listen to podcasts is convenience.
Listen to exactly what you wish, whenever you want, wherever you go.
Well, this is such a fun lesson and I’m enjoying talking about podcasts and
podcasting.
And we’ve been trying to encourage you on why maybe you should consider doing a
podcast yourself.
We see here in our lesson that like radio, podcasts are a form of audio media.
And some podcasts are very similar to radio shows.
I think that’s why a lot of people like to listen to them.
Because they don’t have to carry their radio around anymore.
They can just carry their MP3 player.
And they can listen to the same types of information that they listen to on a
radio.
They can listen to music and they listen to news broadcasts.
But it seems so much easier to listen to a podcast.
And let me tell you,
in the podcasts, they usually don’t have commercials,
which is one thing I don’t like too much about radios.
So the podcasts are often commercial-free.
Let’s look at some of the different kinds of podcasts, some of these free
podcasts.
And there are many, many different kinds of podcasts.
There sure are.
There are podcasts about every subject, every topic available.
And one of them here sounds pretty good for those of you who are interested in
improving your English.
That’s right.
The podcast Grammar Girl, written by a person named Mignon Fogarty, is a very
popular podcast that allows specific English questions to be answered.
It’s very helpful if you’re learning English.
I’ve even used it myself and I grew up speaking English.
I think... I think people...
Do they... do they e-mail questions to Mignon Fogarty or...?
I’m guessing that’s what they do. They...
Is that how they...
They probably e-mail questions to her.
Maybe she has a website.
And then she answers them on the podcast.
And she’ll answer anything from probably grammar to writing.
So wow! What a helpful thing.
I think that’s really neat.
I... I know one time I asked a podcaster a question,
and later I heard him answer that question on the podcast.
I was so excited because I thought:
Wow! He answered my question for thousands of other listeners.
And... and I think it’s great because you can interact and have communication
with a lot of these podcasters.
Yeah, that could be pretty exciting,
because you as a listener get to participate in the podcast by asking your
questions and for them to answer your questions.
And thee... these language-learning podcasts have flourished, our article says.
Now that term flourish is a verb,
and it means it has... they have grown; they have expanded.
So when they started, maybe they weren’t that big of a deal.
But now they flourish.
They’ve really become popular and grown.
I need to look at a Chinese language learning podcast to help me with my
Chinese.
Sure.
Well, anytime you’re learning a language, you need to learn to listen.
And so you’re going to be listening to those podcasts.
It’s a great way to learn a language.
And you can find just about any language imaginable on... in these podcasts if
you want to learn Spanish or Russian or French.
Definitely there are quite a few for Chinese and English.
I’ve used a Chinese one myself for a couple of years.
So you can find one in almost any language imaginable.
Let’s stop for a minute and go to Grammar on the Go with Liz and learn a little
bit more about this sentence.
Hi there, friends.
How are you doing?
My name is Liz.
And it’s time for Grammar on the Go.
It’s a pretty nice day for a walk where I am,
so that’s why I’m out here in the park with my MP3 player.
I use my MP3 player mainly for listening to music.
And some of my friends enjoy watching videos on theirs.
I also know some people who use their MP3 player for language learning.
Speaking of which,
let’s take a look at today’s grammar tip sentence.
Language-learning podcasts have flourished, allowing one to learn almost any
language imaginable.
Another way to say this would be:
Language learning podcasts have flourished,
and this allows one to learn almost any language imaginable.
The grammar’s fine if you want to see it this way.
But by dropping ”and this” and changing ”allows” to ”allowing,” the sentence is
more direct.
You would use such a pattern when you want to talk about how a situation allows
another situation to take place.
For example:
The company has expanded its online network, allowing its customers a greater
variety of services.
Or:
The restaurant is now open twenty-four hours, allowing diners to get a bite to
eat when ever they want to.
Want more example sentences?
You’ll find them in today’s Grammar Tip section in your Studio Classroom
magazine.
Thank you for joining me out here on this lovely day.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go signing off.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Liz.
Now we’ve just learned that these language learning podcasts have flourished,
and they now allow anyone to learn almost any language imaginable.
Imaginable is one of our vocabulary words,
and it means anything that you can think of or imagine.
Able to be imagined.
The word sounds like it means.
So you can also use that word in a sentence like:
There are...
The podcasts cover any topic imaginable.
And it certainly sounds that way.
Definitely.
And I would’ve never imagined that I could listen to a lot of my favorite
American programs on a daily basis.
When I came here a few years ago, it’s amazing how much I can still stay
connected with the programs that are being broadcast in America.
Now I like what the next part of the article says.
It says:
Other uses for podcasts include audio city tours and training classes.
Wow, I think what that means is that if I go to visit a big city that I don’t
know very well,
if I just listen to a podcast, it might be able to tell me different places I
should go and maybe even how to get around.
And it sounds like you could listen to the podcast as you’re walking around the
city.
I think so.
... as you’re traveling in that area.
Yes, I’ve heard about this.
It is really neat.
So I think that’s the future.
Maybe a podcasting is helping people out with... with other things as well when
they go to a new place.
But the biggest reason, by far, to listen to podcasts is convenience,
because you can listen to whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you go,
anytime you want to.
They are convenient, easy to use, and you can use them anywhere.
So if you haven’t started listening to podcasts yet,
or maybe if you’ve been thinking about starting your own podcast,
now it’s the time to do it because you know plenty of information to get
started.
Well, thanks for joining us today.
We’re going to leave you with the skit now.
And we’ll see you next time on Studio Classroom.
Suppose I want to share my opinions and knowledge.
What equipment do I need to make my own podcast?
You’ll need a microphone you can hook up to your computer.
And you’ll need audio software.
Then what do I do?
Make an MP3 file and find a podcasting website to host it.
It’s easy.
That will be like having my own radio show.
That’s right.
Your podcast can focus on almost any topic.
You can teach Chinese.
Language-teaching podcasts have flourished recently.
What else can I do?
You can do almost anything imaginable.
How about giving an audio city tour or making a training podcast?
Those are great ideas.
I can’t wait to get started I can make radio shows,
and friends can listen anytime.
That’s right.
Whenever they want and wherever they want.
Well, go get started.
Not yet.
First I want to listen to the HAHA funny show.
Now that’s funny!
Hi, everyone. I’m Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that’s all the time we have for today.
See you next time.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
Friends, we here at Studio Classroom thank you again for studying with us.
We hope you found this article helpful and that your English technology
vocabulary is growing.
Tomorrow’s lesson gives us some tips on how we can get a better night’s sleep.
I’ll definitely be taking notes.
Until that time,
all of us here at Studio Classroom Worldwide hope you have a fantastic day.
See you then.
(Music).