Portuguese for L1 English-L2 Spanish Speakers: The Effectiveness of “Tá Falado” Podcast Lessons

Abstract

The online audio podcast series Ta Falado was designed to provide native speakers of English who have also studied Spanish with an introduction to the grammar and pronunciation similarities and differences between Spanish and Portuguese. The design is a unique blend of languages, peda- gogical assumptions, and innovative technologies. The objective of this chapter is to discuss the benefits and challenges that have been part of this blending process. As this volume goes to press, Ta Falado is comprised of nearly 50 podcast lessons, focusing on both grammar and pronunciation. The lessons are designed to work independently of any specific course or textbook. As such, they can be mixed and matched as ancillary materials for a course, or individual learners may use the materials for self-study Nearly 80 percent of Ta Falado users enter the site and subscribe via the software application iTunes. At its height, the site received about 300,000 hits per month, and to date it still enjoys a healthy flow of users from all over the world.