介绍： Wake up!!!(47)

Breaking news: Study shows there are two divorce seasons   
Couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the Universi...

介绍： Wake up!!!(47)

Breaking news: Study shows there are two divorce seasons   
Couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.
14 podcasts to improve your listening skills and English vocabulary
My clients often ask me how they can improve their listening skills. The first thing I ask them is what they enjoy doing. Do they like watching films, watching TV Series, listening to music, listening to the radio and so on? All those activities will give them the practice they need to improve their listening skills.
The challenge, however, with most of my clients and most of us truth be told, is that time is short and there are only so many hours in a day that we can accomplish everything we set out to do. Whilst it would be great to watch a film everyday or catch up with the latest episode on your favourite TV series, the reality is that this precious time is often unavailable to us as work and family take over.
That’s why podcasts are such an ingenious way of giving time-poor learners the opportunity to practise their English “on the go”.
What is a podcast?
The word derives from the words “iPod” and “broadcast”. Podcasts are basically radio programmes that can be downloaded onto an MP3 player or listened to directly from your computer at any time.
They are a great way of catching up on radio programmes and practising your listening skills. I often listen to podcasts whilst cooking, ironing, gardening or doing my nails! A lot of people listen to podcasts on their way to and back from work, at the gym, running, jogging, gardening and so on. The beauty of podcasts is that you can multi-task while improving your listening skills.
Why should I listen to podcasts?
“As you listen to more and more English, you will understand more. Podcasts give you the chance to listen to English from around the world, including both native and non-native speakers. Even if you are not concentrating 100% on what is being said, your brain is becoming familiar with the rhythms of English and you are learning without noticing. You will improve your language ‘instinct’ and get a better feeling about what sounds right.”

I wholeheartedly agree with this. It does not matter if you don’t understand everything. The important thing is to provide your brain with as much exposure to English as you can.
The next question my clients ask is which podcasts would you recommend and this where it can get tricky. There are thousands of podcasts out there and they keep increasing in number every day.
I have a few favourites which I listen to and would not hesitate in recommending to learners. I have divided my list into podcasts designed for English language learners and those that are designed for a general audience.

FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS
British Council
The British Council has recently launched their Learn English Apps (Applications) that allow you to practice your English on the go. These are a mixture of audio and video.
BBC
The BBC Learning English site offers a wealth of resources for learners to practise their English. In terms of podcasts that can be downloaded, there are two in particular that are available around the world.
The English We Speak – This is a 3-minute programme that introduces learners to everyday English phrases or slang.
American English
For those of you who want to learn American English, these podcasts are great.
Voice of America Learning English– Voice of America is an English language news and information service that provides a series of multi-genre programmes in English. There is 1) a weekly global news programme 2) a science documentary strand 3) programmes about the history of America and American cultural life and 4) a series on American English idioms.  All the programmes are narrated in English spoken at a slower speed than normal.
All Ears English – This podcast is run by Gabby Wallace and Lindsay McMahon, two English Language Teachers. Each episode lasts between 5 – 10 minutes and is filled with great tips on how to work/study with Americans and be part of American society. They are full of energy and fun..
TED Talks
“Ideas worth spreading”. This is TED’s motto and they have been sharing inspiring talks about a variety of topics since 1984. The length of the talks vary from 3 minutes to 18 minutes and transcripts are available.
The talks are available through a number of ways.

And there you have it. Do you listen to podcasts? Are there any you would recommend that are not listed here? Please share them here.
I hope you found this program helpful. If you did, please share it. And don’t forget to subscribe to our platform EnergyFM is you don’t want to miss out on my programs.