In The English We Speak podcast series from BBC World Service, listeners are presented with a 3-minute
introduction, including a description and many examples, of an everyday English
phrase or piece of slang. In the episode Photobomb, we hear a few examples and a natural explanation of the term “photobomb”, all contextualized in a
(scripted) conversation.
I think
English language learners would respond really well to this episode in class. Students
always ask to learn slang words, and this episode gives them a fun new term: photobomb. Disguised as a lesson on
slang, I would use this podcast to practice listening strategies. Starting with
a pre-listening prediction phase to activate students’ background knowledge
using images of photobombing, I would
ask students to listen to the podcast episode and find characteristics of the new
word, such as meaning and part of speech, based on how it is used. This episode
is only 2:36, the recording is clear and consistent, and the speech is casual
but slow for learners. It would make for good listening material for students
to practice skills to determine the meaning of a word in the context of a
conversation.
