EnglishPod
EnglishPod is a language course podcast and accompanying website that offers lessons in English. The service was founded in 2008 and is the fifth such language site from Praxis Language Ltd., after ChinesePod, SpanishPod, FrenchPod and ItalianPod.
Overview
EnglishPod currently offers 3 new episodes per week with additional extra show on the weekend. The podcasts are accompanied by text expansion exercises and other tutoring aids for paid subscribers. It is based in Shanghai, China and hosted by Marco Mejia and Catherine Mathes.
The lesson shows range in difficulty from "Elementary" to "Advanced" and have a length of ten to twenty minutes lesson time. Since February 2009, only the "Elementary" lesson shows and the extra shows are offered for free. Users are encouraged to interact with the EnglishPod hosts and listeners around the world on the website and in the forums.
Shows
EnglishPod's main goal is to teach spoken, conversational English to its listeners. For the listener's convenience, there are several levels of difficulty. Between the levels, the dialogue becomes progressively harder and the hosts speak more fluently. Each lesson show contains an English dialogue which is usually repeated 2 or 3 times during the lesson. Between the dialogues the hosts discuss the new words, phrases, structures, grammar features and provide context for the new vocabulary used in the dialogue. Then the lesson ends up with a couple of cultural insights AbOUT the topic.
Levels
- Elementary: This level focuses on everyday English for everyday situations. You’ll learn how to use some helpful phrases and basic grammar structures naturally and confidently. You’ll also learn how to tell the boss that you’re sick, or explain that you forgot someone’s name.
- Intermediate: In this level more complicated grammar structures are introduced, and some topics related to global events, business and management are discussed. You’ll learn how to give bad news to your boss or tell your colleagues about hot new trends in technology.
- Upper Intermediate: At this level, the topics are more complex, and include real English to help you navigate though difficult situations. You’ll learn how to give your opinion in a political discussion and what to say in English when responding to tough questions from your boss.
- Advanced: At this level you’ll be provided with a full range of complex topics as well as with the specialized language you need to express your opinions with precision. You’ll understand finer shades of meaning and deal with irony and sarcasm in English. At this stage, you’ll be introduced to plenty of idiomatic phrases that will allow you to communicate on an almost native-like level.
- This Just In: These shows are all about announcing new features, changes, updates of EnglishPod and the hosts and guests speak spontaneously during the shows. The typical length of an episode varies from 8 to 15 minutes.
Hosts
- Marco Mejia: Originally born in Ecuador, he grew up in southern California in the city of Los Angeles. After living in the US for over a decade, his parents decided to move back to Ecuador where he attended and graduated from the military academy "Eloy Alfaro". He obtained a TEFL certificate in 2002 and majored in Business in Santiago - Chile. He is currently the Lead Host for EnglishPod and production manager for praxis.
- Catherine Mathes: Catherine is a native of Chicago. She went to Brandeis University near Boston and lived in the lovely city of Parma, Italy, studying at the Conservatory of Music, Arrigo Boito. She is the product manager and lead teacher at ItalianPod as well as co host of EnglishPod.
See also
- ChinesePod
- SpanishPod
- FrenchPod