RoPeCast

{{Infobox Radio Show
| show_name = RoPeCast
| image = RoPeCastLogo.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = RoPeCast - The lighthearted podcast for learners of English
| other_names =
| format = Educational; language course; cultural information; grammar
| runtime = 4-7 minutes (average episode length)
| country = [[Germany]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| home_station =
| syndicates =
| television =
| presenter = Roger Charlton,<br />Peter Tischer,<br />John Holland
| starring =
| announcer = John Holland
| creator = Peter Tischer
| writer =
| director = Roger Charlton,<br />Peter Tischer,<br />John Holland
| producer = [[Saarland University]]
| executive_producer =
| narrated =
| record_location = [[Saarland University]]
| first_aired = September 2008
| last_aired = present
| num_series = 2
| num_episodes = 23
| audio_format = [[MP3]] [[M4A]] [[Enhanced podcast]]
| opentheme = Medley of [[Land of Hope and Glory]], [[Waltzing Matilda]] and [[Stars and Stripes]]
| intro_gags =
| website = http://www.ropecast.de
| podcast = http://szsbls3.szsb.uni-saarland.de/podcast/podcast.php
}}

'''RoPeCast - The lighthearted podcast for learners of English''' is an [[enhanced podcast]] AbOUT the English language, aspects of culture, learning tips and travel information. It is published biweekly by [[Saarland University]]. Target audience are advanced learners of [[English as a second language]]. There are 28 Episodes produced so far (as of May 19, 2009), which have been airing since September 2008.

==Target group==
RoPeCast mainly addresses learners of level B2 (or above) according to the [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages|CEFR]] but it can be mastered by B1 students as well. Furthermore, many topics are also useful for higher-level learners interested in dealing with higher education, stays in English speaking countries and the like.

==Didactic usage==
Learners can use RoPeCast on their own to practise their listening in a variety of situations: The short five minute episodes can be downloaded via a podcatcher such as [[Juice (software)|Juice]] or [[iTunes]] and listened to on a mobile device. Alternatively the enhanced podcast can also be played back on the weblog of the podcast.

Some topics might as well be of interest for teachers of English, to be used in class or in project work.

== Enhanced podcast ==
RoPeCast is published both as an standard [[MP3]]-File to ensure compatibility with most portable audio-players, and as a so called "[[enhanced podcast]]" which means that the audio file comes enclosed with pictures, additional information, and links.

== Hosts and Guests ==
{|
|- valign="middle"
|
*'''Roger Charlton'''
*'''Peter Tischer'''
| width="33%" |
|
*''John Holland''
*''Paul Kingsbury''
*''Henry H. Leitner''
*''David J. Malan''
*''Henry Rademacher''
*''Sonya Hetherington''
*''Camara Williams''
|}

== Episode listing ==
;0. '''Welcome to RoPeCast'''
;1. Where handys don't come in handy
:Germans are surprised to discover that it’s possible to tour the United States on a Beemer, which sounds to them like “Beamer”, a word that native speakers of English probably don’t even know, because “Beamer” is a pseudo-loan word.
;2. Missed the mark – brand name blunders
:Did you know that even reputable companies sometimes get it wrong when choosing a name for a new product or service?
;3. Ersatz vocabulary – borrowing from German
:It is well known that German (like many other languages) has borrowed words from English. Less well known is the fact that words have also travelled in the opposite direction, with sometimes surprising results.
;4. Kissing guys and telling lies
:Mondegreens are misheard song lyrics and they range from the amusing to the mind-boggling. This RoPeCast manages to bring together Jimi Hendrix and Anneliese Braun.
;5. Football is not always soccer
:Do you know how many types of football there are in the world? There may be no definitive answer, but we’ll deal with 3 major sports: American football, soccer and rugby football, taking in hockey and cricket along the way.
;6. Not all balls are round
:When people in many parts of the world speak of the “World Cup”, they are probably referring to the game of soccer, but rugby also has its World Cup, Six Nations’ Trophy, and other competitions.
;Chimney, Front Door or Window?
:Christmas Special - This time we present traditions and peculiarities of Christmas in the English speaking world.
;Where are the fireworks?
:New Year’s Special - Hear how people in Canada, Ireland, the USA and UK see in the New Year.
;7. Sporting language
:Sporting metaphors permeate the English language. In this podcast you can learn about level playing fields, curveballs and sticky wickets. And do you know what a rain check is?
;8. No future for English?
:Learners who take risks when speaking English may make better progress than those who play it safe. But ignoring grammar can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
;9. Tense moments
:Do you really know how many tenses you use when speaking your first language? Our analysis might surprise you – and help you with your English.
;10. To –ing or not to –ing – that is the question
:Do you know when to say I live here (simple form) and when to say I am living here (progressive or continuous form)? We offer some help with this tricky topic.
;11. The ins and outs of American and British
:If one compares US and British usage, one finds apparently contrasting expressions which mean the same thing, for instance: to fill in a form versus to fill out a form.
;Be our guest
:Just ask us anything about English, and we’ll do our best to find the answer!
;12. Pain-free surgery and other British surprises
:Those who are familiar with American English probably find it hard to believe that in the UK, surgery is not only performed in hospitals but something quite common in Parliament and even in office buildings, but it’s true.
;13. More than words
:Have you been wondering which English dictionary to buy? There are so many on the market that it is very difficult to know which one to choose. This podcast suggests which criteria are important and offers a short-list of four titles.
;RoPeCast relaunch - РоПеКаст
:As of today, RoPeCast will become РоПеКаст and target learners of Russian …
;RoPeCast - April Fool's day
:Did we fool you?
;Easter not-too-special
:After our Christmas and New Year’s special episodes we tried hard to deliver something similar for Easter. Listen to this short episode to learn what we came up with …
;14. The word is flat!
:Everyone can see that dictionaries are helpful books, but is it worth spending more to buy a dictionary with a CD-ROM?
;15. Show’em or shred’em
:You want to have proof of your English skills and you look around for a test that you can take to get a certificate. We’ll tell you which certifcates really are worth the money and the effort.
;16. The Best Test in the West?
:The American TOEFL may be the best known English test but there is a British alternative.

== References ==
* [http://www.podcast.de/stichwort/universit%C3%A4t/ RoPeCast featured on podcast.de]
* [http://visu.uni-saarland.de/index.php?id=997 Geförderte Projekte im Rahmen der Anreizorientierung "E-LEARNING" 2.0] (German)
* [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=293338471 RoPeCast in the iTunes directory]

== External links ==
* [http://www.ropecast.de RoPeCast Website]

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[[Category:Audio podcasts]]
[[Category:Educational podcasts]]