J. Kavitha Assistant Professor, Department of English,
SFR College,
Sivakasi.
Introduction:
Communication refers to the exchange of thoughts and ideas with the intention of
conveying information. As Robert Gately says, “Effective Communications starts with listening”. A teacher, who is able to communication well with students, can inspire them to listen and participate in class. Students learn at their own pace and assess their proficiency by listening to audio and video materials to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Language Laboratories are necessary for the effective teaching of English pronunciation and communication skills.
The language laboratory plays an important role in the language learning process. As it is a technology aid for learning, it has a number of advanced facilities that can help a student to learn a language with proficiency to communicate. This paper attempts to highlight the importance of an English laboratory in developing communication skills.
Language Laboratory:
According to the ‘Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary’, Language laboratories are
study rooms equipped with electronic sound-reproduction devices, enabling students to hear model pronunciations of foreign languages and to record and hear their own voices. Most laboratories provide a master control board that permits a teacher to listen to and correct any student individually. The purpose of a language lab is to enable students to actively participate in language learning exercises and get more practice than in a traditional classroom environment.
Role of English Language Teachers in Language Lab:
Teachers of English have a responsibility to help the students in overcoming their fears
about communicating and to assist students in developing more positive perceptions of communication activities. The English language teacher is not just a teacher of grammar and sentence structure. He/she is expected to play an active role as a counsellor, communication specialist and soft skills trainer. For this, a teacher should be aware of the latest technologies, explore new ideas and have a certain amount of specialization in the subject. Language teachers motivate the students in lab sessions by conducting classes on personality development, interpersonal skills and soft skills which are essential factors to mould them into a perfect professional.
Types of Language Laboratory:
Scientific advancements have produced a number of innovative products to assist the
learning process. Innovative products such as digital multimedia control, wireless headsets and microphones and the interactive response pad are very useful for students learning languages. Conventional Laboratory:
This is the primitive form of the language laboratory. It has a tape recorder and a few audiocassettes of the target language to teach the learners. The teacher plays the tape and the learners listen to it and learn the pronunciation. This type of laboratory is no longer common. Lingua Phone Laboratory:
Again this is a traditional type of laboratory with a little modernization. It has an electronic device which has two functions. It works as a cassette player with all the features of a normal cassette player on the left side and as a repeater on the right side that helps one to record one’s voice and play it back for comparison.
Computer Assisted Language Laboratory (CALL):
CALL plays a pivotal role in language learning/teaching as it makes use of a vast wealth of teaching and learning materials that are offered free of cost through computer and information technologies. It helps the teacher to give practice in particular aspects of language. It enables even shy learners to be actively involved.
Language Lab Software:
A language Lab System consists of a teacher console and a student console. The teacher console is provided with the control functions and the student console is provided with the facility to receive recorded lessons and to listen to the lessons and pronunciations. The console also has the facility to record and replay the students own recording. The student is able to listen, repeat and compare the pronunciation.
Web2.0:
The term “Web 2.0” is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing and collaboration on the World Wide Web. A web2.0 site allows users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social media. An example of web2.0 includes social networking sites, blogs, wikis, video sharing sites etc. Some web2.0 tools sites are: www.listen-and-write.com, www.forvo.com, www.voxopop.com.
Techniques to improve language skills through a language lab:
Among the four macro skills of language learning, listening and reading are receptive
skills whereas speaking and writing are the productive skills. With the help of a language lab, language skills can be learnt, practiced and evaluated through the following techniques. Listening and speaking skills:
When listening to a foreign language, we need to know the sounds, rhythms, tunes and stress patterns of that language. It is better practiced in a language lab with the help of head phones and ear phones. This provides ideal conditions for intensive listening. Student’s speech evaluation is possible through the digital recorder modules in language learning software. The students on different workstations can be grouped to participate in role plays and group discussions. It can also be recorded and saved for later evaluation.
Reading and writing skills:
Reading comprehensions can be given in the form of stories, descriptions and narrations. The learners can be encouraged by allowing them to follow the different methods of reading such as skimming and scanning. Writing can be practiced through typing on gap fill exercises and model format for letters, reports and resumes. These can be observed and edited by the instructor through the teacher’s console.
Significance of the Language Laboratory:
The language laboratory is very useful for assessing students’ speech. It provides students
with the technical tools to get the best samples of pronunciation of the language. The electronic
devices used in the laboratory will stimulate the eyes and ears of the learner to acquire the language quickly and easily. It helps the students in rectifying their wrong pronunciation. The language laboratory exists to help students, to use technology effectively to communicate. Personality development and communication skills are equally important for students in finding good jobs in addition to their academic records. For this reason, all colleges and institutions should have a language laboratory on their campus and a trained instructor specifically for the laboratories.
Conclusion:
A language lab acts as a platform for learning, practising and producing language skills
through interactive lessons and communication mode of teaching. The uses of Language Research Centres are considered to be a radical shift from the teacher-centred approach to an independent and enjoyable learning experience. Learners can act and respond in a variety of ways at their own pace. The language laboratory exists to help one to use technology effectively to communicate.
Works Cited:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/web_2.0 >. web. August 21, 2011.
<http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/language-laboratory>. web. August 21, 2011.
<http://www.articlebase.com/languages-articles/use-of-language-lab-in-english- language- learningteaching-978617.html>.web.August21, 2011.
Damodar. G, et.al, eds. IT Revolution, Globalisation and the Teaching of English.
New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributers, 2008.
Sreehari. P and Suresh Kumar.E, eds. A Handbook for English Language Laboratories.
New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2007.