Teaching Foreign Language

 

 

Why do I need a Language Lab?

Teachers are often asked to justify to their administration their need for a Language Lab. Utilizing a Language Lab in the classroom allows the teacher:

  • To implement the National Standards
  • To enrich curriculum.
  • To infuse technology effectively with student learning.
  • To develop the language skills of speaking and listening.
  • To more easily provide individual attention to students.
  • To provide opportunities for students to work independently.
  • To provide enrichment as well as remediation.
  • To allow students to work in more focused pairing and grouping activities.
  • To provide students multiple and varied opportunities to acquire a second language. **Studies have proven that when a student learns a second language, they score higher on national standardized tests, the ACT & SAT.
  • To provide students an opportunity to develop student language portfolios.
  • To allow multiple levels to be taught at the same time.
  • To record students all at the same time, especially Advanced Placement exams.
  • To provide multiple audio sources---CD, Internet , computer, DVD, VCR, TV, and tapes for audio listening activities.

The Educational Media Language Lab allows the instructor to be more effective and efficient in the classroom.
Students can maximize their time by listening and practicing speaking the language more often.
The instructor can record 1-36 students at the same time for burning to CD’s or immediately playing back recordings to the headsets.
The instructor can listen in anonymously to individuals, pairs, and groups while they are practicing and assist them immediately as needed.
AP Language Exams can be administered easily using the language lab.
The classroom does not have to be dedicated as a language classroom. This saves valuable space in the building.
Students can be instantly placed in “pairs” or “groups” with students seated all over the classroom with one click of a computer mouse. Pairs and groups can be changed several times in a class period. Groups can be 1 to 8 students.
Audio lessons can be played through student headsets from any computer, CDs, the Internet, the teacher’s computer, VCR, DVD, TV, or cassette tapes.
Multiple audio/video sources can be played simultaneously to teach multiple groups pairs, or individuals, at the same time.
Students can privately ask questions through their headset/microphone and the teacher can respond without other students hearing their conversation.
Students remain more focused and less distracted while learning!
Teacher can talk to individuals, pairs, or groups without the other students’ knowledge.