Tasks in Class : My 5th Discussion Forum

1. Discuss the following terms. ; RSS, SNS (microblogging), podcatcher (iTunes)

 RSS is the acronym of “Really Simple Syndication”. You can subscribe podcastings through RSS. And if you once click to subscribe certain news or podcastings, it will automatically show you newly updated episodes. So you don’t have to check whether the new episode is uploaded or not.

 SNS is the acronym of “Social Network Service”. There are really various SNS like “Facebook”, “Twitter”. Its major feature is that it is optimized to enable us to interact with other people through online world. You can grasp this nature through its commenting system. And, every user can be a broadcaster and a subscriber at the same time. It is also kind of a microblogging. People mainly upload their own picture with short text.

 Podcatcher is a kind of softwares or a webpage used to check newly updated episode, and to download it to your computer. iTunes was the first podcatcher for users of Apple devices. And now there are really many smartphone applications used to download podcastings, they are also the podcatchers.

2. In what aspects podcasting is different from other audio-visual materials? Why are these differences/unique characteristics meaningful for L2 learning and instruction?
 
 I found out two distinctive feature of podcasting. First, podcasting can provide up to date materials. Some podcastings issues new episode day by day. It is different from normal audio-visual materials which made in some months or some years ago. Students are very sensitive to latest trend. They really want to study with materials which tell or show them what is happening now. So, in L2 classroom, using podcasting would be very effective way to satisfy their such demand for interesting L2 materials.

 Second, L2 learning podcasting requires learners to have ability to determine what podcasting would be helpful or not for their learning. Podcastings are innumerable and podcatchers don’t tell what podcasting fits well with their L2 level. Therefore, they have to try to scrutinize their own L2 level to find out proper podcasting. This will give them the good chance to see themselves seriously checking their L2 level. This process can give them big intrinsic motivation, because they want to study with other podcastings which could be used by more advanced learner.

3. Podcastinig doesn't seem as popular in Korea as in other countries such as U.S. China, and other western countries. Why do you think so?
 
 It is related to iPod. At the first time, podcasting system emerged by Apple. As you know, podcasting is the compound word of iPod and broadcasting. So, the system became bigger and bigger through iPod users. Then, why it was less popular in Korea than other countries? It was because other mp3 players were popular in Korea. “Iriver” and “Samsung Yepp” were very popular in Korea. But, iPod wasn’t. Many Koreans felt it like a stranger from foreign country. Few user couldn’t make podcasting popular in Korea.