How To Ensure Success Through Digital Language Lab?

By Author: Biplab Das
Total Articles: 1
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What used to be frowned upon, even banned, in classrooms can make this kind of a comeback? Guessing what we’re talking about? Yes, you guess it right - its computers, tablets and smartphones. Once consider as hindrance for language teachers, are now in full collaboration mode, helping teachers to create the kind of lessons students can’t help but love. And the language lab is the perfect addition to this list. Many language lab providers are helping educators to integrate technology into their language classes. Before discussing about digital language lab software, or language lab, it is important to understand that these technologies make language acquisition a more exhilarating and engaging experience. So, here we discussed about three mindsets that associated with language labs and their success.

1. Nothing Replaces Teachers

It’s tempting to simply sit back, relax and play with cutting edge technology. At the end of the day, teachers are human, and if there’s some software able to accomplish their tasks, then everyone should acknowledge ...
... that. But don’t commit the mistake so many PowerPoint presenters make as they think all the talking is done by the PPT. But no one replaces teachers while learning a language. You should remember that human speaker or presenter will be the show. Here differentiate between good and best foreign language learning software. Technology can give you an extra pair of hands to help you in conducting a session. Technology can make your job a little easier. It can save you time, but the responsibility is yours to educate and mold those students about technology. As a teacher, you will always hold the reins. Irrespective of the digital language lab software, no one can replace the passion of a teacher. A program can be made to be interactive and fun, but only a living and breathing teacher can make funny faces, tell funny stories or find the humor to break the monotony.

2. Active Learning

Students can place the onus on tech’s shoulders and expect it to teach them a language on command. But this can’t happen. Productive of language programs are those that has active participation and purposeful attention. You can’t learn a language passively. It cannot be achieved through a thousand mindless mouse clicks. If you as a student are going through that motion then no software program will help. It is ideal for students to engage in every activity. Repetition is the key. It’s not about just finishing the modules and getting through every task. It’s about going at it over and over until concepts are learned like the back of your hand. Technology will do its part, as a student you must be willing to work in tandem. Foreign language learning software is just a way to achieve it.

3. Flexibility and Feedback

Students are unique as they come with their strengths and weaknesses. The language laboratory equipment suppliers are aware of it. The language lab allows students to study at their own pace or tailor-fitting a program according to a student’s needs. Classroom technology is robust enough to respond to individual requirements. Make use of the flexibility which allows students to draw their own learning paths - instead of compelling the whole class to learn the same things at the same time. Gone are those days when a class used to be considered a single, homogenous blob. You should also make full use of software’s feedback system. As a teacher, you need to remember that the lessons are for the students, the feedback mechanisms are for you. The best part of a language lab is that you can receive the progress report. You’ll get a clear picture of how each member of the class is performing. You’ll get to know who’s having trouble with what topics. This would inform your future lessons. You’ll be in a much better position to effectively guide your students to language mastery. Hence, if you are to make the most out of your language lab technology, you need to be really fluent on flexibility and feedback.

Skill Junction Infratech Pvt. Ltd. is one of the best language laboratory equipment suppliers in India has revolutionized the area of language lab industry. Skill Junction has completely changed the approach language learning, communication & interpersonal skills.

Author’s Bio: Biplab Das is experienced in writing extensively about digital language lab software and language lab in general. Writing about edtech is his forte.