Fun on the Radio--

Well, it all comes around... while serving up my veggie chili at last weekend's chili cookoff, I met Michael Sourial, host of a local radio show, Now Just Listen. Targeted at learners and teachers of English, Now Just Listen is featured live on Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 p.m. CST (10:30-11:30 p.m. EST), both on local radio and live on the internet (this link will automatically launch RealPlayer).

Michael's got a great radio voice-- what timbre!-- and just the right touch for an English language show in a non-English speaking country: he speaks clearly and slowly, yet naturally. The show is structured for variety and features a number of returning guests, all area English teachers.

My favorite part of the show is the "English through music" segment, where Michael does a brief analysis of lyrics before playing the song. Last night's focus was "English through the music of The Ramones," featuring the cynic's favorite, "Blitzkrieg Bop". Something about Michael's delivery really brings out the poetry in song lyrics.

Anyway, I had the pleasure of being a guest on last night's show. I joined the "English Roundtable" discussion, where we talked about ways to approach tough classroom problems. In the photo above, Michael prepares his notes while Roundtable regular, Claudia, and sound technician Israel, look on.

Check in for next week's show-- looks like I'll be a regular on the "English Roundtable" portion of the show. Yay!