By 2024, it’s predicted over 500 million people will be listening to podcasts at least once a month. Podcasts (a loose combination of the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcasting’) are carving out an increasingly important space in our daily routines.
Whilst the assumption is that podcasts are all bros doing banter, dating horror stories, and deep dives into deliberately esoteric items, it should be said that not only light topics are covered.
In fact, edutainment (education + entertainment…the podcast world certainly loves a portmanteau) podcasts are becoming more and more popular, appealing to those who are keen on a passive kind of learning, particularly.
That’s why Babbel – the world’s first language-learning app – created the infographic “What can a Podcast Teach You?”, to explain this global phenomenon through lots of fun facts and data, while also offering a series of useful tips for learning languages… by listening to podcasts.
As the infographic explains, in 2021, Brits listened to almost 60 million hours of podcasts every week (+50% compared to 2019 and 17 times more than in 2015). In 2022, even more growth: +2.9 million listeners are expected in the UK.
From “Today in Focus”, a podcast by The Guardian, which covers a crucial daily talking point in 20 minutes, to “Eat Sleep Work Repeat” by Bruce Daisley (Ex-Vice President of Twitter), there are many podcasts loved by the British.
A few of our best podcasts here at IDEAL include:
- The Adam Buxton Podcast
- Love Stories with Dolly Alderton
- Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne
- How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
- The Blindboy Podcast
Anyway, Babbel has also launched numerous podcasts to help language learning. In fact, there are many educational benefits to listening to Babbel’s podcasts: They present and introduce relevant cultural elements, aiming to help improve pronunciation and conversation. They also explain new linguistic forms of speech, and even introduce cultural context for those who prefer a more immersive form of language learning. Fascinating stuff!
So, are you ready to put your headphones on and press play?
