Podcasting

I will use podcast to make a news show regularly.
Students will make their own class news shows weekly or biweekly.

For this project, students will be a news reporter or an anchorperson. They will pick a topic or case, and keep a close coverage of the case. They can cover various topics including class members, school events, presidential election, global warming, fashion, popculture, football, food, etc.

Before reporting their news using podcast, students will write scripts for their podcasts. While students are writing scripts, they will learn how to write a news objectively. They will practice to write in third person, as opposed to first person.
After finishing writing a report, they will record.

After recording, students will listen to the news together and will evaluate the news reports. The possible evaluation criteria would be as follows.

Is the the main point of the story clear?
Does the story sound objective?
Is it written in first person, second person, or third person?
Are the sources the reporter used in this story to get his/her information objective and reliable?
Was the speed of report too slow or too fast?
Is the pronunciation of reporter clear?
Does report sound alive?
Was the length of the news appropriate?
...

I think using podcast could encourage students' motivation to learn the new langauge and promote various kinds of language usage in my classroom. I am looking forward to learning more about it.