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by Center for Educational DevelopmentBegin with this introduction to ESLPod.com's Guide to the TOEFL® Test Podcast.
Recent podcasts
Podcast 28 - How to Use a Tutor to Improve Your English
21/11/2006
In this special podcast, we interview Warren of SuccessfulEnglish.com about how to select and use a tutor to improve your English. We'll answer the following questions: -What should you look for in an online or face-to-face tutor? -How should you select a tutor? -What are the advantages of video tutoring versus email or voice only? -How should students prepare for the new TOEFL speaking section? -What are some other ways to use an online tutor? -What are some ways to build vocabulary and proficiency?
Podcast 27 - Marketing Lecture
30/05/2006
Script by Katrina Carrasco Audio Index Slow dialog: 1:10 Explanation: 5:02 Fast dialog: 19:10 Questions: 21:36 During the next few weeks, we will be learning about the basic principles of marketing, from conceiving the idea for a product, to developing it based on market research, to promoting its sale. If you all read the assignment for last night you should already have an idea about what we will be discussing today. What is marketing? The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines it as the “management process of anticipating, identifying and satisfying customer requirements profitably.” This definition describes modern marketing, because only recently have the needs and wants of the consumer played a part in influencing marketing strategy. It has only been in that last half-decade or so, in fact, that companies have based their product development on market research. Before market research was developed, companies produced whatever goods they felt were most useful, but left it up to salespeople to find the best ways to sell those goods to customers. Two terms we will be using frequently in our discussions over the coming weeks are acquisition and base management. These terms describe two key parts of marketing strategy. Acquisition refers to the process of acquiring new customers, through advertisings, promotions, and product placement. Base management refers to the process of maintaining relationships with existing customers, as well as identifying other products they need through interacting with those customers. One of the chapters I assigned for today was the introduction to Advertising. As you would have read, advertising is a crucial part of marketing. Advertising plays a major part in the acquisition process, and it is probably the part of marketing that you, as young consumers, have most come into contact with. Advertising and promotion are part of today’s basic marketing strategy, but they fly in the face of classical economic theory, which operates on the idea that supply and demand are not dependent on one another. If the supplier of a good promotes that good, they are in essence telling the consumer, or demand side of the equation, what it is that they want to consume. Supply is trying to influence demand. Some critics argue that this perverts the ideal free market.
Podcast 26 - Running into Someone
16/05/2006
Script by Meropi Peponides Audio Index: Slow Dialog: 1:19 Explanations: 3:26 Fast Dialog: 23:40 Questions: 25:06 Anna: I was riding my bike across campus, when suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw someone step right in front of me. I yelled “Watch out!” so that he could move out of the way, and I barely missed him. But he dropped his notebook, and papers started to fly everywhere. I decided to stop to help him pick them up. Anna: Hey, are you okay? I’m really sorry. I didn’t see you until the last minute, and I couldn��t stop. Nick: It’s alright. I was just startled, that’s all. Thanks for helping me pick up my papers. I think we got them all. I’m so scatterbrained, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if something was lost. Anna: Yeah, I’m the same way. Hey, you look really familiar. Have we met before? Nick: You know what, I thought I recognized you. You’re Carl’s friend, right? We met at his party about a month ago. Anna: That’s right! Good memory. Look, I’m really awful with names, what’s yours again? Nick: I’m Nick. It’s nice to see you again. Anna: Hey Nick, I’m Anna. Nick: I remember. Anna: Oh, of course. Hey, what are you up to right now? If you have time, I’d love to grab a cup of coffee or something. Nick: Actually, that sounds great. I was meaning to ask Carl for your number so we could hang out sometime. Anna: Really? What a coincidence that I ran into you then. Literally. Nick: Yeah, it certainly was. Let’s get that coffee.
Podcast 25 - Finding a Roommate
02/05/2006
Script by Meropi Peponides Audio Index: Slow Dialog: 0:55 Explanations: 3:07 Fast Dialog: 17:37 Questions: 19:05 Fiona: Hi, Chris. How are you? Chris: Hey, Fiona. Thanks for meeting me here on such short notice. The thing is, I needed to ask you something and I thought sooner was better than later. Fiona: No problem. It worked out that we were both on campus. What’s the question? Chris: Well, I was thinking about how we have to move out of the dorms next year. Fiona: Yeah, I know. No more dining halls! I’m just excited about getting away from that lousy food, but of course that means I’m going to have to cook for myself. So I will probably be worse off. Chris: Yeah. Anyway, do you know where you’re going to live next year? Fiona: I hadn’t really given it much thought. Why do you ask? Chris: Well, I thought maybe you and I could share an apartment. If you don’t mind moving a little further away from campus, we could probably afford to have our own rooms. Fiona: Oh. Well, I don’t know if I want to move far away…It would be fun to share an apartment though in order to split the costs. Chris: That’s what I’m thinking. Or we could find a couple more roommates in order to to afford something near campus. If you could find another girl and I could find another guy to share a room with, we’d be set. Fiona: Maybe. Can I think about it and let you know? Chris: Of course! Take your time. We have a while; I just wanted to start apartment hunting early so we could find something good. Fiona: Sounds like a plan. I’ll let you know as soon as I make a decision.
Podcast 24 - University Bookstore
25/04/2006
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 1:06 Explanations: 3:19 Fast dialog: 16:22 Comprehension Question: 17:47 I went to the bookstore to buy the textbooks I needed for this semester. I went in and saw that the books were organized alphabetically by department. I found the Chemistry department under the “C’s”, but, I couldn’t find the books for the class I was taking. I asked one of the clerks. Student: Excuse me, I’m having trouble finding the books for Chemistry 205. Could you help me? Clerk: Sure. That’s Chemistry 205, right? Okay, that would be over here. What course section? Student: Let me see. It’s section four with Professor Jackson. Clerk: For that section, there’s a textbook and a course reader. There’s also a set of course notes. Student: Oh, okay. If I get them and they’re the wrong ones, what’s the return policy? Clerk: You can return textbooks within two weeks. You can return course readers, course notes, and lab notes, too, as long as they’re unopened. Just make sure you have the receipt. Student: Wow, this textbook is $95. Are there any used copies and are all of these required? Clerk: Sorry, but it doesn’t look like they’re any used ones and, yes, they’re all required, not optional. Student: Okay, thanks. I also need to get a backpack, some notebooks, pens, and index cards. Clerk: Those will be on the second floor. Anything else you need? Student: No, that’s it. Thanks a lot.
