A second or foreign language is just as important as it has ever been. Students and professionals invest a large amount of money in language immersion courses to improve their linguistic skills and boost their employability.
Language Lab is the useful way preferred by most institutions today to provide effective practice sessions to students. Language lab software is basically an audio visual aid for learning language in the LSRW methodology. The learning principle adopted in language lab is similar to the way one achieves fluency in their first language or mother tongue. This multimedia enabled tool works by providing language learners with system that helps them to do tasks such as listening to audio recordings, compare and evaluate their performance, practise pronunciation and vocabulary and learn grammar rules. Though each student console in language lab is controlled by teacher console, language lab focuses on student-centered learning.
The exciting thing about language lab is that it offers greater level of flexibility in language learning process. Besides, teachers can use a wide range of materials and activities for teaching language in a participatory way. Teacher can also promote interactive learning through role-play, debate, discussion and more. Blended learning is the major advantage of using language lab software. Most software has the provisions for tutors to set tasks and compile reports on student progress. Above all, students can use virtual language labs to enhance the essential language skills so they can really make the most of conversational opportunities when they meet up with their teacher or other learners.