Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Through podcast recording, children not only get to practice English but also discuss and share their favorite people, things, and experiences. While recording, students use English in authentic situations, which not only enhances their speaking abilities but also makes the learning process more meaningful and engaging. Currently, elementary school students in Taiwan mainly focus on learning basic English vocabulary and grammar, but they rarely have opportunities to apply this knowledge in natural contexts outside the classroom. Therefore, creating a comfortable and supportive learning environment that provides sufficient resources is key to helping students confidently use English both inside and outside the classroom—and to the overall success of bilingual education.
Results/Contributions

The team creates scripts based on topics that interest children and invites international students to collaborate with team members in brainstorming ideas for each episode. On-site, the team first engages the children in simple English conversations to assess their language proficiency and build rapport. Then, through guided interaction, the children are encouraged to have conversations with the university students. After each recording session, team members post updates on Facebook, inviting parents to listen to the episodes with their children after school and review the vocabulary and sentence patterns featured in the program.

 

In the first half of 2024, the team recorded nine episodes at Jianguo Elementary School, including two sessions held directly in the classroom, with the participation of seven youth volunteers. In the second half of 2024, they recorded 17 episodes at Jianguo Elementary School and four episodes at Jiou She Elementary School, with 17 youth volunteers involved. In total, nine international students participated in the recordings, 24 students joined the project, and 115 elementary school children were served—culminating in 25 podcast episodes recorded overall.

Keywords
Podcast, bilingual education, international education, authentic learning, communicative approach, collaborative learning
References