Due to the limitations of Weebly, my audio and video Podcasts can be found on a different blog, here.


This podcast was created for a High School Spanish II classroom. It meets the following Michigan State Standard and Benchmark:

Communication: Communicate in Languages Other Than English

1.2 Interpretive Communication: Students understand and interpret
     written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
 
     1.2.N.L.d Understand main idea of an audio presentation (CD,
                  lecture, radio, podcast, songs/music)

Podcasts can be used in a variety of ways inside and outside of the classroom. Students can listen and follow along on a podcast when the teacher wants to present new information in the target language, for example when the teacher would like to introduce new vocabulary. The teacher can use the podcasts as a review for an exam, or as a performance assessment within the classroom. Podcasts can be used by the students to present book reports for fellow students to listen to, or so parents can listen to them to showcase their language learning ability. Video podcasts can broadcast information about their lives to pen pals in Latin America or Spain, for example, or it can be used as an introduction to everyone in the classroom.

Another great way to use podcasts is to communicate with other educators as well as parents. Educators may like to look at other students' podcasts to see what they are doing, as well as my personal professional development. Also, it would be a good communication tool to keep in touch with parents on what is new in the community as well as the inside the classroom.

Since I'm leaving on June 15, 2008 to teach English as a Foreign Language in the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, for two months, I thought it might be useful to find out the history of the islands and useful information cultural information that I could use to integrate myself into their culture and use in my teaching while I'm there. Searching on Google, I first entered: "Galapagos Islands" OR "Islas Galapagos" (as they are called in Spanish) so I could get a full listing of both English and Spanish websites available to me because I am able to read both languages fluently.

Using this search only, of course 241,000 hits came up on the web with this criteria. The first four were Wikipedia, but I didn't want to use that material, so I browsed through other websites and came across the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism, and looking further into the website even though it contained solely things for tourists (of which I will not be because I will be living there) I did find a Ecuadorian dictionary of slang words they use there, something very useful to someone in my situation!

I know Charles Darwin had a lot to do with the Galapagos Islands, but I wanted to find out more about his studies there, specifically when he was there and what he found. So, I entered "Charles Darwin" AND "Galapagos Islands" and found this video where I learned about the Charles Darwin Foundation and all they are doing to save the tortoises and other plant and animal habitats throughout the islands in the name of Charles Darwin.

Being able to use the specific operators helped me to narrow my search functions significantly and did not bring up the usual "Visit the Galapagos Islands Today on our cruise ship vacation websites", which is very comforting.

Finally, I wanted to find the famous book that Charles Darwin wrote on his experience in the Galapagos Islands on natural selection, called: On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. This book was published in 1882, but that's all I've ever known about it. When I typed in, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" into Google, the entire book came up! You can read the entire book on Google Books. I thought this was remarkable.

Thus, my search of The Galapagos Islands is not over, but I feel confident that I am more prepared to go and teach, and search if I have to, information on the subjects that I will need to if need be!

Although some students will not be able to roll their 'r's right away or ever, they will still gain a wealth of knowledge and learn a wonderful amount of information about the culture of Latin America, Spain, and Guinea Ecquatorial.