Students enrolled in ESL@SetonHall intensive English program this semester are producing English-language podcasts for global audiences. Students are writing, editing, and posting the podcast episodes using the PodBean app found inside Piratenet. For the participating students, this is the first time doing a podcast using English, although several are social media influencers in their own right using their primary languages of Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese.

In the ESLP 0420 Advanced Speaking/Listening class, students are working as a small team to record and produce the podcast, ESL Level 4 PODCAST PROGRAM! The team of three students center each podcast episode around a theme such as globalization or education. Students have complete control over the theme of each episode. The three students – Lucia, Rafaella, and Fernanda -- alternate turns leading each episode as host. Post-recording, the three share responsibilities in finalizing the podcast. For example, one student serves as editor, another as webpage manager, and a third as social media promoter. The podcast webpage. Follow the podcast Instagram @esl_podcast. 

In another classroom, students in the ESLP 0451 Vocabulary Development class are recording podcasts individually. The first round of episodes is focused on the theme of happiness. In Amber's podcast, she uses a story to illustrate the true meaning of happiness. Her episode, What is Happiness, can be found here. In another podcast, Isabela conducted an interview with a fellow Seton Hall student to find out their personal definition of happiness. Her episode, Happiness Interview, can be found here.

International students contribute directly to the diversity of voices and perspectives on our campus. Podcasting apps such as Podbean provide an effective means to amplify their voices locally and globally. We look forward to their continued podcast contributions.

The academic-based ESL@SetonHall intensive English program prepares individuals for success in postsecondary undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States. During morning coursework, students study reading, writing, listening, and speaking using academic materials. During afternoon coursework, students select from a range of elective classes including TOEFL Preparation, ESL All Skills, English for Specific Purposes, and Pronunciation Skills.

Categories: Arts and Culture, Nation and World