Mobility and Edutainment in ESL Learning via Podcasting

Abstract

As listening is considered one of the most difficult communication competence in English language learning this paper analyses the difficulties and shows how to overcome them, using such new modern technologies as mobile learning (m-learning) and Edutainment. The article analyses integration of m-learning and Edutainment via podcasts during the English second learning. Students of the XXI century are digital natives. Educators should embrace all the opportunities the digital era presents. Teachers have been trying to keep up with the fast-changing world of information technology while shaping their mind. Digital formats allow interactive, entertaining, and motivating activities. The five-year experience of using mobile phones for listening has shown that it is interesting, easy and comparatively a new approach as it allows learning the English language outside the classrooms. Next step – the gradual transition from the state of a passive listener to a creator of the own podcasts using mobile phones has shown that a combination: podcast – mobile phone gives a birth to a new mobile technology in learning foreign languages.