The ENGLiSH CiRCLE

TED is a small nonprofit organisation devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading”. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.

Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer — TED includes amongst other things the award-winning TEDTalks video site.

“On TED.com, we make the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 700 TEDTalks are now available, with more added each week. All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages.”

Our mission: Spreading ideas.

“We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.

This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you’re an important part of it. Have an idea? We want to hear from you”.

“The springtime TED Conference, held annually in Long Beach and simulcast in Palm Springs, is at the heart of TED. More than a thousand people now attend — indeed, the event sells out a year in advance — and the content has expanded to include science, business, the arts and the global issues facing our world.

Over four days, 50 speakers each take an 18-minute slot, and there are many shorter presentations, including music, performance and comedy. There are no breakout groups. Everyone shares the same experience. It shouldn’t work, but it does. It works because all of knowledge is connected. Every so often it makes sense to emerge from the trenches we dig for a living, and ascend to a 30,000-foot view, where we see, to our astonishment, an intricately interconnected whole.”

Visit www.ted.com for a most amazing learning experience both from a language learning point of view and as a human being open being opening to the Whole.

“English as a Second Language” Podcast is for everyone who wants to improve their English speaking and listening skills.Who is ESLPod.com?ESLPod.com is run by a team of experienced English as a Second Language professors with over 30 years of high school, adult, and university ESL teaching experience. Dr. Lucy Tse writes scripts and story ideas for the podcasts, and records many of the dialogs and stories. The host for the podcast is Dr. Jeff McQuillan, who helps read the scripts and provides explanations for them.

Both Dr. Tse and Dr. McQuillan received a Ph.D. in applied linguistics and education at the University of Southern California. Dr. Tse was a professor of applied linguistics and education at Loyola Marymount University, Arizona State University, and California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. McQuillan was a professor of applied linguistics at California State University, Fullerton, and Arizona State University. Both are currently Senior Researchers at the Center for Educational Development, the sponsor of ESLPod.com.

Why are you doing this podcast?

“For many people around the world, learning English is very important. Unfortunately, there are very few useful, effective sources for learning English. Most people take English classes, which help them up to a certain point. ESL Podcast is designed to help you continue to improve your English”.

What’s so different about ESL Podcast?

“Well, first, all of our podcasts are free to anyone who wants them. Second, ESL Podcast uses a very different approach than other courses or websites”.

“We believe the fastest way to improve your English is to listen to conversations and discussions you can understand. Many people try to improve their English bylistening or reading things that are too difficult. They understand only 40-50%, which means they are wasting half of their time!”

“At ESL Podcast, we provide English at a slower speed and use everyday phrases and expressions. We explain what these expressions mean and how to use them. That’s all! It’s simple, it’s obvious, and it’s very powerful”.Click here for a direct access to ESL Podcast website! 

What is ESL Podcast?

What is a podcast?A podcast is an audio file that you download from the Internet. After you download it, you can listen to it on your computer or on an MP3/portable music player (for example, an iPod or iRiver). You can subscribe to a podcast so that it is delivered to you automatically each day, just like a newspaper.What is the Learning Guide?The Learning Guide is an 8 – 10 page guide for every future podcast. The Learning Guide includes all of the following:

• Complete transcripts (ESL Podcast and English Café)
• Definitions
• Sample sentences
• Comprehension questions
• Additional explanations
• Cultural notes
• Tips on improving your English

Get more information or register today for the Learning Guide.

How do I download a podcast to my computer or MP3 player?The easiest way to is to subscribe to the podcast with free software such as iTunes.

You can also download the individual files from our website:

1. RIGHT-click on the Download button. (for Mac: CTRL-click).
2. For Internet Explorer: Select Save Target As… (for Firefox: Save Link As).
3. When you see the Save box, note where you are saving it and click Save.
4. Find the downloaded file and double-click it or import it into your computer’s audio player.