The process of learning a language, regardless of whether it’s English, German, French or Spanish, is a personal one. It requires direct interaction between the tutor and student, which often isn’t possible in a classroom environment. For most students, hiring a private teacher isn’t a viable choice. A language lab, for the uninitiated, is a platform that creates an environment of collaborative learning. Students can learn from varied devices and can access resources, information and exercises from any place at any time, while teachers can keep a tab of each student using the same software interface.
Ever since the first language lab came up in 1908, things have changed drastically. Today, the best ones, like Robotel language labs, make the most of available educational technology to improve experience for students, tutors and institutions alike. Of course, not all systems and setups are designed equal. Below is a quick overview of what can be expected from the right product.
Understanding the process
Digital language labs use a wide number of gadgets and devices. To facilitate the learning process, students have access to various devices, including laptops, tablets and smartphones, which can be supplied by the school/institute or can be a personal device. Teachers, on the other hand, have workstations, which can be a tablet, PC or laptop, where they can access, modify and add data, exercises. Everything is facilitated via a software, which connects the modules, where the server ensures that the system is up and running. Some networks can be locally hosted, while others rely on Wi-Fi. The idea is to simplify the learning process, so special headphones are usually used. These can cancel ambient room noises, so that the tutor can be heard clearly, while the noise-cancelling microphones record the student’s voice and not the distractions around.
The relevance of language labs
In case of language learning, students are required to speak, which is not only important for pronunciation but also for fluency. In a conventional classroom setup, that isn’t possible for practical reasons. Yes, students can still speak, but there’s a limit to the time, which can affect their learning and ability to explore more. With language labs, things are meant to be fluid. One student doesn’t really disturb the others, while the tutors and teachers can go back to the recordings and keep a track of every student. The whole process becomes much more organic and useful. Today, the use of language labs isn’t a choice. More and more institutions are investing in such setups because it ensures that more students can take part in a class without compromising on the learning process.
Over the years, the demand for digital language labs has increased, but before making an investment, it is important to understand what the setup is meant to do. Smart classrooms are reality, and it is best to consider the features, advantages, pros and cons before taking the leap. Most companies and developers behind language labs are open to demos and discussions, so it is possible to scale and customize such solutions for the specific needs of the institutions. With betterment in educational technology, language labs are bound to get better, and therefore, the possibility of expansion is also something to be considered. Not to forget, the right system should be easy to implement and must be priced rightly.
