Among the notable benefits of language laboratories are its ability to encourage students to actively participate and assimilate at a faster rate. While it takes 2.2% of the 45 minutes used in a traditional class for students to speak in the language they are studying, it takes 24% in a language laboratory classroom, and this depends on the exercises the class takes.
According to Ana Fernández-Pampillón Cesteros, “Digital language laboratories are much more than a tool for training and listening discursive language, they are places to study and experiment with real samples of languages, learn languages and exercise in their use. So they are configured using multimedia technology, communications and flexible and open organizational models with any a necessary tool to process philological materials.
All this and much more is what you get with language laboratories, a complete tool to put in the service of teachers and students the latest technology for teaching.”
Benefits of language laboratories include:
1. Language Laboratories Provide More Resources Traditional Class.
In a language laboratory, learning is structured, and the students are able to practice a new language using the computer which contains more exercises and activities. Here, learning a new language is more structured and the visuals are compelling. Language laboratories have videos which students can watch. There are also speech recognizers which ensure their pronunciations are perfect.
2. Availability of More Resources and Activities than in a Traditional Class.
Unlike traditional classrooms, language laboratories encourage student-teacher communication as well as student-student communication through activities and exercises which involve oral communication.
Language laboratories also have tools where conversations are hosted via chats (individual and groups) where students studying the same language communicate, sharing knowledge.
3. Language Laboratories Allow Simultaneous Individual Work
All the students in language laboratories can at the same time, loudly read their course materials without disturbing anyone and without being disturbed. This can be achieved using professional headsets that absorb surrounding sounds.
4. Audio Monitoring
In language laboratories, teachers can possibly listen to the conversation of their students. This feature lets the teacher keep track of correctness. The students, on the other hand, are motivated to focus more because they are not aware of when the teacher is listening, therefore, they engage one another more effectively.
5. The Teacher’s Role is Important
Language laboratories are structured to help teachers prepare their lessons faster while serving them volumes of interactive resources; they only provide supplementary materials that facilitate the teacher’s role; the teacher focuses on important parts of the course.
It allows for High Degree of attention to Diversity
Language laboratories enable teachers to pay attention to their students from different levels due to its interactivity.
At Zuma Mall, we are always at your service to answer your questions, explain further on the effectiveness of language laboratories.