ESL Podcast

Here is another very useful on-line tool: ESL Podcast
English as a Second Language Podcast.
This podcast is run by a volunteer team of experienced English as a Second Language professors in the States

I just listen Podcast 471 - Trying to Get Off the Phone
Following are my listening note, and comment.

Trying to Get Off the Phone means end the telephone conversation.
There are some expression you can use to end the telephone conversation:
(1) to let you go
(2) have a call on the other line
(3) to get going
(4) cut this short, or even you can say
(5) nature calls!

Other useful words:

• intention: plan to do something
• the nerve: doing something that is not right, that shouldn't be doing
• That's bull: somethng is not true, is a lie
• gun for someone/ something: especially in car, increase you speed to damage something
• get of scot-free: not to be punished or critized when done something wrong

ESL Podcast indeed is very useful for self-study. It contain various topics and most important it provides the free audio, not only the reading but the English explanation. It is good to learn to use the simple word to explain difficult words, meanwhile learning the authentic expression. However, beginners might find it difficult to understand the elaboration in English. And since it is an "English as a Second Language Podcast," it doesn't provide learners the scrip in their own native languages.

Since ESL Podcast provide such great audio, it might be better if they can also provide some listening practice. For example listening comprehension test, fill in the blank, and record system.