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Update 2: Forming Groups

Hello people,

This week, after discussing the different topics possible in this project, the students are asked to form small groups in order to work together on a little segment of the podcast.

Each group will eventually contribute a small 5 minute segment to the overall podcast. The groups are designed in a way that not more than 4-5 people work together on their segment in order to keep everything within the time limit and give everybody the possibily to speak up.

In this early stage of the project most students don’t really know what to expect and are quite excited about whats coming next. First of all the groups are required to create a short introduction for themselves and their chosen topics. Following that each group will work on a short scripted conversation that has to be used in the podcast recording.

We’ll be back with more information next week!

Kirsten & Marc

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Update 1: Introduction and Theme

Hi guys,

We are back with our first update on the project. This week we will discuss the broader topic of the project and it’s intended audience.

First of all, the project is part of “Oral Skills” a seminar offered to English majors at the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf in order to improve their spoken English. The seminars are held to give students more confidence and diversity when speaking English among each other and in possible future careers.

The podcast project is a final step for young students to get their English out into the world and to experience natural English conversations in a non-English environment.

America & Canada: North-American Studies

This term’s theme will be North-American studies. All students will create podcasts within this broad field of possible topics. Whether they want to talk about movies, literature, music or other cultural phenoma is completely up to them. You might hear a podcast on South Park and the depiction of Americans as well as Canadians or a fictional interview with one of America’s greatest authors. There are plenty of options and we already see some very interesting ideas coming up.

That is it for this week’s OralPod news. Feel free to leave comments and ask questions.

Have a nice week!

Kisten & Marc

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Update 6: In the recording studio

Hi guys,

Today we are coming to you almost live from the recording studio of the HHU. The first groups have already recorded their podcast segements and we are just about to get into the next recording session.

For many students, being in a recording studio was a first. While a lot may know what a studio looks like from TV or their favourite CD’s booklet, standing in the booth for yourself the first time can be quite uncomfortable. That is why it is vital to keep everyone in a good mood and make them feel comfortable.

After the first awkward moment of hearing their own voice through the professional headphones, everyone was able to deliver their podcast “speech”.

So stay tuned and watch this place for the results!

Kirsten & Marc

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Oral Skills Podcast Project

Hello and Welcome!

This is the Offical Oral Skills Podcast Webblog. We are currently a group of ~ 150 students involved in a podcast project of the English Department of the HHU. This blog keeps you updated on the project and the individual podcasts.

Are you interested to hear more about the project? Please feel free to ask questions and leave feedback.

For now, we are back in the recording studio ;)

Stay Tuned!

Kirsten & Marc