LEARNING ENGLISH - PODCAST RESEARCH.

Welcome to Peter Thompson's Newcastle University Pod cast Research Site.

What makes a good pod cast?

What kind of pod cast helps you learn English?

Please listen to the pod cast, then complete the questionnaire.
Alternatively, subscribe to this podcast using the RSS Feed below:

If you answer the questions, we can make better Pod casts!

Are you Male Female

What level of English speaker are you?
Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Are pod casts usually easy to understand, or are they usually difficult to understand?

Very easy

OK

Difficult

How often do you download new pod casts?

Every day.

2-3 times a week

Once a week

Once a month

Less than once a month

How often do you listen to each pod cast?

Just once

2-5 times

5-10 times

More than 10 times

Do you listen carefully and make notes, or do you listen while you are on the train, walking, cooking etc?

I usually listen carefully, make notes and check words in a dictionary

I usually listen while I do other things. (On the train, while cooking etc.)

Do you like podcasts that have extra materials, such as worksheets you can print? Yes. No.

Please rate how useful these extra materials are;

A transcript (The pod cast written out, so you can read while you listen.)

Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not useful

A gap-fill exercise (A transcript with missing words, where you write the missing words into the spaces.)

Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not useful

Questions (Written questions about the pod cast, which you try to answer.)

Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not useful

More information. (Written information on the same subject as the pod cast.)

Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not useful

Please write about any other kinds of extra material you would like to have with pod casts.

How long should a pod cast be?

Under 3 minutes long

3-5 minutes long

5-10 minutes long

Over 10 minutes long

What kind of pod casts do you like listening to? Choose all the kinds you would like to listen to.

Language learning. Pod casts that are just about learning language, explaining grammar, explaining vocabulary, explaining idioms etc.

News. Pod casts for language learning that talk about the news, politics, world events etc.

Stories. Pod casts for language learning where one speaker tells a story. For example ghost stories, science fiction, romance, simple versions of famous books.

Drama Pod casts for language learning where many actors tell a story. For example new plays, simple versions of Shakespeare.

Science and Environment. Pod casts for language learning that talk about science issues. For example, new inventions, global warming, animals

Culture. Pod casts for language learning that talk about culture in other countries. For example, holidays, sport, education, art.

History. Pod casts for language learning that talk about history in other countries.

Daily life. Pod casts for language learning that talk about normal daily life in other countries. For example, diaries, shopping, work, home.

Interviews. Pod casts for language learning where an interviewer talks to an interesting person, for example sports stars, politicians, teachers.

Movies. Pod casts for language learning that talk about films, movies, cinema. For example, reviews of new movies.

In this box write your 2 favorite kinds of pod cast from the list above, and any other kinds of pod cast you like.

What kind of voice or accent do you like to hear on a pod cast?

British (U. K.) English

American (U.S.) English

Other kind of voice or accent. Please write.

Do you like to listen to just one person speaking, or do you like hearing 2 or 3 people talking?

One Speaker.

2 or 3 speakers.

When there is only one speaker, do you like listening to a man's voice or a woman's voice?

Man's voice

Woman's voice

I don't mind, both are OK.

Do you like the speaker to speak at normal speed, or do you like the speaker to speak slowly, so he is easier to understand?

Normal

Slow

Some language learning Pod casts have short music at the start and at the end. Do you like this?

Yes

No

Any other comments?

In this box please write anything else you want to say about language learning Pod casts

Thank you.