How to Create a Language Learning Podcast

The easiest way to learn a language is to be contantly immersed in other people speaking the language. This is why language audiotapes or CDs are so helpful, and why a language-learning podcast would be a great tool for someone trying to pick up a foreign language faster.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• microphone
• computer
• podcasting software
• web server
• desire to teach a language

1. Organize your podcast into lessons. Think about your target audience. Are you making podcasts for beginners or creating interesting lessons for people who are familiar with the language but want to improve their vocabulary? These basic questions will affect how you want to write out your podcast episodes.
2. Make sure you have a script or outline prepared before you start recording. If you are going to record it with another person, make sure both of you are on the same page before you start.
3. Once you're ready, hook up your microphone and start recording. You can do this using a program such as Audacity or GarageBand. Just open a new project and press record.
4. Don't worry if you make mistakes. You can go back and edit it later. Once you're done, convert your recording into an mp3 file, if it doesn't do so automatically.
5. Open up a podcasting software program so you can edit your podcast and add features. Add art and background music.
6. Add chapters so listeners can jump back and forth in between sections if necessary.
7. Once that is all done, save it, and make sure to fill in all the ID3 tags: Author, Title, Description.
8. After you're done, put the file onto a server, and then you can take the links and publish them onto your webpage.
9. When you have enough episodes, create an RSS feed for your listeners so they can conveniently subscribe to your podcasts.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay attention to your description. This is your chance to sell your podcast and inform potential listeners why your podcast would be helpful to them.
• Be very aware of your audience. Perhaps you want to cldearly label and organize what level of speaker your podcast is aiming for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.
• If you use background music or jingles, don't use copyrighted music. There are plenty of royalty-free sites for you to legally take music from.