Why spend your evenings in a classroom studying grammar and sentence structure when you can learn English simply by listening to your MP3 player?

That is the thinking behind a new program offered by a language training center in Shanghai, which is providing free podcasts of English discussions on its Website.

Some English professors in the city, however, say listening to a few foreigners speaking on the Internet or an MP3 player can't replace classroom teaching.

Ondemand training said it is the first language training center to use podcasting to teach.

Podcasting, a term that combines the words "Ipod" and "Broadcasting," refers to a group of technologies used to distribute audio and video files over the Internet.

People can listen to and watch podcasts online or download them to an MP3 player.

Ondemand says it is trying to raise interest in podcasting as a teaching tool, and will only begin charging money for the service after it has become more popular.

"Unlike many training centers, we don't need many excellent teachers to meet the demands of thousands of learners," said Ken Carroll.

Carroll is one of three native English speakers who create podcasts for OnDemand. They each create a discussion on any interesting topic everyday and post them on the center's Website (www.suixuan.com) for anyone to download free of charge.

"Anyone with a computer, Internet connection and MP3 media device can download our free talk and listen to it at any time they want," said Carroll. "Thousands of people can listen to a podcast published by only one excellent teacher."

Wang haitao, headmaster of New Oriental School, a school famous for Tofel, GRE and GMAT courses, say face-to-face teaching is far superior.

"The so called innovative teaching mode is similar to long-distance education or TV education," Wang pointed out. He said the lack of any pressure from teachers or a study schedule make it easy for students to be lazy.

Chai Mingjiong, who teaches English at a local university, agrees on the importance of face-to-face teaching.

"You must practice to improve yourself, not depend on any kind of software," Chai said.

(Shanghai Daily January 19, 2006)