LearnEnglish Podcasts – App Review

4/LearnEnglish Podcasts

App Details:
Name of app: LearnEnglish Podcasts
Reviewed by: Josemaria Carazo A.
Details: Developed by the British Council. Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

Review

Following with learning languages with mobiles, this application is an example of one of the arenas where handheld devices are definitely the best technology: podcasts. In addition, the British Council make the best of it: transcript paragraphs are shown and highlighted as the podcast is played. Simple tests are offered to those who want to check their own understanding. Moreover, topics of the podcast are related to interesting places and celebrities.

This app will cover the needs of those informal learners who seek a way to improve their listening skills. Due to the content -podcasts- as well as the technology -mobiles, iPods or tablets-, learning with this app is possible anytime and anywhere, even while running, cycling or driving, though it may depend on local laws.

Related 21st Century Skills:

Literacy Life and Career Skills
	Flexibility and Adaptability
X	Initiative and Self-Direction	Learner chooses the podcasts, and whether s/he wants to take the test or not. Records of listened podcasts are kept.
	Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
	Productivity and Accountability
	Leadership and Responsibility
Learning and Innovation Skills
	Creativity and Innovation
	Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
	Communication and Collaboration
Information, Media and Technology Skills
	Information Literacy
	Media Literacy
X	ICT (Information, Comm. & Tech.)	Actually, I would mark this one anytime we talk about learning with mobiles.

Links: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hk.hkbc.epodcast&hl=en
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learnenglish-podcasts/id369851807?mt=8