Language labs evolved from audio listening stations with tape libraries to Internet-capable computer stations with access to textbook resources and supplemental materials.
The benefit of a language lab is that expensive resources, ones that language students can't afford on their own, can be available for student use.
The problem with language labs is that these Labs are inconvenient to use (since the student must make an extra trip to go there) and must be staffed (to keep the equipment in place and operating). Staffing a language lab means that lab assistants must be paid, so labs are often closed during hours of low use (nights and weekends) when many students study.
One potential benefit of language lab attendance is the opportunity to provide one-to-one tutoring (if the lab assistants are proficient in the target language). The catch here is that a school may support five or more languages with a single language lab, so that scheduling tutors presents the same use and convenience issues as hours of lab availability.
In addition, except in areas where large Hispanic populations reside, a pool of available language tutors may be difficult to develop and train…and skilled tutors may demand higher hourly pay than non-tutors.
Another challenge for delivering language learning support through a language lab is that students often fail to make time for using the lab unless their language teachers assign a specific level of lab attendance as part of the course requirements.
But the huge time demands of student life…other classes, social activities, family obligations, eating, sleeping…means that few students' schedules accommodate using the language lab for language learning.
No matter how high the quality (or expensive), or how through the language learning aids that are available in the language lab; language learning tools often sit idle on computer or server hard drives, gathering the equivalent of electronic dust webs. Few students enjoy the luxury of enhancing their study beyond completing the minimum number of assignments required to get by.
Another challenge facing language labs involves the use of network versions of language support software. Network rights for language learning software come at an additional (per user) expense, but network software provides two benefits:
The downside of network installation of language learning support and language learning aids is that the learning organization's IT Department will be required to manage the server and network access. And, IT Departments find themselves over scheduled and under resourced more than the students that they serve.
In addition, the computers in a language lab must be kept up to date. This process includes the installation of recurring security patches, anti-virus updates and anti-virus scans, the update of Web browsers and browser plug ins.
Language lab management also requires the creation and management of student accounts, and the use of home directories.
A home directory is a network folder that students can access from any computer in the lab. (Ideally, students can access this networked volume from any computer on campus, or from any computer within the school district, college or university system. A home directory facilitates student research and decreases the use of diskettes and USB devices. Diskette and USB drive can introduce virus and security challenges to the lab, and the mounting of USB drives causes problems if the drives are extracted without being un-mounted. (With some network policy restrictions places upon computers by the IT Department, it becomes necessary to turn the computer off before a USB drive can be safely removed from the computer.)
Of course,
The language lab must also provide access to online textbook and eBook resources. This makes Internet access mandatory.
eBooks come with personal access to online learning tools, and offers limited financial relief from the obscene price of language textbooks. The benefit of the eBook approach is that students have access to updated cultural information that is kept-current by the textbook publisher.
eBook materials are available from anywhere that the student can connect to the Internet, and audio resource components can be copied to portable MP3 players for review anywhere.
When acquisition, installation, maintenance and staffing costs are calculated; most language labs fail to garner enough use or student learning progress to return the investment.(Of course, no language program can recruit students to a program that appears substandard (if the program fails to invest in a language lab) because the program will appear to be "behind the times."
The lack of return for the investment of a language lab is exacerbated when language teachers fear the technology, and fail to integrate the use of the lab in delivering instruction.
Model language lab solutions include:
So, while language labs can enrich and reinforce language learning skills, relying solely upon mechanical and technical strategies shortchanges communication practice and cultural awareness.
Computers and taped lessons may be indispensable, but they are insufficient resources for building real-world language skills.
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