Who wants to help an English Teacher?

[Russell Nash]

So here's the deal.  I teach English to a bunch of Germans.  I use different print and audio media in my classes.  The audio is especially important to help them understand different cadences and accents.  I want to do a phone training exercise.  I could record a bunch of different messages, but they'd all be the same voice.

Who would like to record a message for me?  It doesn't have to be super incredible sound quality.  The built in microphone on most computers would be good enough.  The messge would just be any typical business type of message.  I teach at a law firm , so you could riff on that if you want.

Sample message:
"This is Russell Nash calling for Mr. Eley.  The headphones you ordered have arrived.  You can call us at 624-1818 or just drop by during normal store hours."

Longer is OK, but please don't go longer than a minute.

Send your MP3s to Rssllnash@yahoo.com.  I think that address can now handle decent size files.

Thanks

[Jim]

Odeo might be helpful in this pursuit, since people can just record the message straight into their web browser and just click "Send."

Far as I know, it's free, too.

[Alasdair5000]

I'd be happy to.  Should be with you tomorrow.

[Russell Nash]

I'd be happy to.  Should be with you tomorrow.

Thank you much.  I'm actually very curious to see what this crowd will come up with.  They can be out there, but, please, keep them clean.  I had to spend some time last week explaining the word hooker.

[Steven Saus]

I mentioned this on another forum I'm on, and they (also) suggested the Speech Accent Archive.  It doesn't quite do what you are asking for, but it can definitely supplement your curricula.

[Alasdair5000]

I'd be happy to.  Should be with you tomorrow.

Thank you much.  I'm actually very curious to see what this crowd will come up with.  They can be out there, but, please, keep them clean.  I had to spend some time last week explaining the word hooker.

Can do:)  Sorry about the holdup I've been both busy and less than fully well today (This week's Pseudo outro is struck through with a rich vein of barely contained dental terror).

Be with you tomorrow for sure.

[Russell Nash]

I just got my first message.  It was from the new voice of PseudoPod, our very own Alasdair Stuart.  Really quite good, but I'm going to spend a bit of time explaining some inside jokes about "feeding the pod".

Thanks a lot, Alasdair.  I'll start using this after I compile a couple more messages.

[Russell Nash]

One of my students walked in with an email that nobody could understand, including me.  Most of it was just poorly written, but there was also a phrase I just couldn't understand.  It started off:

"We kicked for touch..."

It was from some British business man.  I'm thinking this is a rugby analogy, but I have no idea.  Any help?

[Alasdair5000]

That's a rugby term yeah.  In fact it's a Rugby league term, the version of the sport which I may well be playing again soon, should anyone ever get back to me.

   Basically:  The whole objective is, as standard, to get as far up the pitch as possible whilst retaining posession of the ball.  If a player looks like they're about to be tackled (And in league once your team has been tackled five times the other side automatically gain posession) then they can kick to touch, namely the touchline at the other end of the field.  It then becomes a race between the teams as the ball becomes wild and whoever gets their hands on it first keeps posession.  If you get it, then you're less than five metres away from the other team's touchline.  If they get it, then you've got their entire side to get through to get to the ball.

Think that's about right.

[Russell Nash]

So it's like an American saying they punted?

[Alasdair5000]

Bingo.