History
It was popular to learn foreign languages in the 20th century in the United States. During World War Two, there was a club for soldiers to learn foreign languages in order to communicate with others. This institute was called Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), and that could be considered as the time language lab existed in the real world (Plate, 2015). However, during that time, this can only be called the army education system and it changed several times to meet the requirements of people. Also, the teaching ways were changed as well. Until now, language learning was combined with technology and people have more opportunities and chances to learn languages. The first recorded language lab was established at the University of Grenoble in 1908. Frank Chalfant brought the concept to the United States, establishing a 'phonetics lab' at Washington State University in 1911 or 1912. These early language labs usedLayout
The 'traditional' language laboratory consisted of a teacher console networked to multiple stations for individual students. The teacher console typically included a tape recorder to play the instructional recording, a headset and system of switches to enable the teacher to monitor either the audio being played or an individual student, and a microphone for communicating with students. Each student station generally included a student tape recorder, headset, and microphone. The tape recorder both enabled recording of students' spoken responses and allowed them to record instructional content for later independent study. Types Generally divided into two types: a. Listening type (Audio-passiveLL, referred to as A-P type). Students use earphones to listen to recorded teaching materials. It is a language laboratory with only one-way voice transmission function, also known as listening room. b. Listening and speaking type (Audio-Active LL, referred to as A-A type). Teachers and students have earphones and microphones, so it is a language laboratory that can carry out question-and-answer dialogues, has two-way voice transmission function, and generally has soundproof seats. ② Hearing and contrasting (Audio-Active Comparative LL, referred to as A-A-C type). In addition to the teacher-student dialogue, students can record the recorded teaching materials broadcast by the teacher and their own oral exercises for comparison. In some listening and speaking contrast-type language laboratories, teachers can also remotely control students' tape recorders or monitor and monitor students' homework. ③Audio-visual type (Audio Visual LL, referred to as A-V type). Visual images such as slideshows, movies, and videos can be played at the same time to create real and vivid language situations. Audiovisual language laboratories are also suitable for teaching a variety of subjects. In addition, some language laboratories, in addition to audio-visual functions, are also equipped with long-term microprocessors, which can analyze and evaluate students' homework at any time. This is why a language lab is crucial to learning to communicate effectively in any foreign language, regardless of the script. However, A best Advanced Digital language Lab is not just another "special equipment" that requires a room. It is a smart, digitally-driven and cloud-based language lab software program, especially effective in supporting mobile assisted language-learning and teaching to attain fluency in any foreign language of your choice. It provides instant and seamless access to native-speakers via audio-video aids, helping you imbibe the nuances of the language almost as if you were residing in a foreign country where you did not have a choice but to speak the native language. Programed to run across operating systems and even available as an app, is truly the next-generation language mastering tool. ExamplOperation
Once the master program had been transferred onto the student recorders, the teacher would then hand over control of the decks to the students. By pressing the record key in the booth, the student would simultaneously hear the playback of the program whilst being able to record his or her voice in the pauses, using the microphone. This is known as an audio active-comparative system. From a technological point of view, thisProblems
Language laboratories in the 1970s and 1980s received a bad reputation due to breakdowns. Common problems stem from the limitations and relative complexity of the reel to reel tape system in use at that time(Sihite, 2017). Design played a part too; the simplest language laboratories had no electronic systems in place for the teacher to remotely control the tape decks, relying on the students to operate the decks correctly. Many had no way to stop the tape running off the reel in fast rewind or forward wind, which meant time wasting and greater chances of failure through misuse. The tape recorders in use after the early 1970s in the language laboratory were more complex than those in the home, being capable of multitracking and electronic remote control(sihite, 2017). As a result, they often had several motors and relays, complex transistorised circuitry and needed a variety of voltages to run. They had many rubber parts such as idlers and drive belts which would perish and wear out.Change of media
Starting in the 1980s, many schools transformed their old language labs into computer suites. However, the advent of affordable multimedia capablePresent day
Today all the major manufacturers say they have a ‘digital’ or a ‘just software’ solution. However, in many cases they still rely on proprietary networks or expensive sound cards to successfully deliver their media. There are few software only solutions that just rely on installing designated language lab software onto a network and then directing just the original network to manage the media between teacher and student, student and student or student back to teacher. In the past the quality of school, or university networks may have meant that the speed that the media could be delivered on ‘software only’ labs would have meant a ‘lag’ in the audio feed. These days all professionally run networks are able to work with these ‘software only’ language lab solutions and deliver media synchronously. Software only systems can be easily installed onto an existing PC-based network, making them both multi locational in their access and much more feature rich in how and what media they manage. The content that is now used in the new language labs is much richer and self authored or free: now not just audio, but video, flash-based games, internet etc. and the speed and variety of the delivery of media from teacher to student, student to teacher, is much quicker. Further developments in language labs are now apparent as access moves from a fixed network and related Microsoft operating systems to online and browsers. Students can now access and work from these new 'cloud' labs from their own devices at any time and anywhere. Students can interrogate and record audio and video files and be marked and assessed by their teachers remotely.Digital language labs
The principle of a language lab essentially has not changed. They are still a teacher-controlled system connected to a number of student booths, containing a student's control mechanism and a headset with a microphone. Digital language labs had the same principle. A software-only language lab changes the concept of where and what a language lab is. Software can be installed and accessed on any networked PC anywhere on a school, college, or university campus. Software-only systems can be located in one room, from room-to-room or campus-to-campus.The latest form of the Digital Language was brought t India bFunctionality
The levels of functionality of current language labs vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. All labs will have a level of teacher control to manage student licenses / desktops. The more sophisticated ‘software only’ labs have a higher level of teacher management and control over the student desktop. One of the key differences with the ‘high end’ ‘software only’ products is their ability to work ‘live’ with the students as they record and work with media. So instead of waiting to correct student recordings after they have been recorded and collected back it is now possible for a teacher to work synchronously and ‘live’ with students on their own, in pairs and in groups, thus enhancing the immediacy of the teaching and learning experience. The next generation digital language labs allow teachers to monitor, control, deliver, group, display, review and collect, audio, video and web-based multimedia content. The student player is linked to the teacher console and can play audio, video and web-based formats. Students can rewind, stop, start, go back to last silence, record, fast forward, repeat phrase and bookmark.References
Bibliography
* Cuban, L. (1993). Computers meet classroom: Classroom wins. Teachers college record, 95(2), 185-210. * Plate, B. (2015). ''Language Labs: A Brief History''. * Warschauer, M. (2004). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT press. * Sihite, J. (2017). The Role Of Language Lab Technique In Learning English As A Second Language. Baker, M., Buyya, R., & Laforenza, D. (2002). Grids and Grid technologies for wide‐area distributed computing. Software: Practice and Experience, 32(15), 1437-1466.External links
{{Commons category * Norma Garcia and Laurence Wolff