Language lab is a world class language laboratory software integrated with information technology techniques to import high standards in language teaching and learning. It also provides study material with teaching Methodology. It offers exclusive result oriented means enrich language skills of students. This is flexible and interactive language learning software not makes foreign language effortless but also makes it fun and quick to learn. It enhances communication skills of learner.
●》History of Language laboratory :
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 used phonographs to deliver audio and were not yet divided into individual booths.
Later on In the year 1940 linguists at the University of Michigan developed the behaviorist audio-lingual method of foreign language learning. This method relied on repeated listening and speaking drills. This method increased in popularity in the United States and Canada into the 1950 and 1960 century Language labs were well-suited to the audio-lingual method. In year 1958 there were over 300 language labs in the US with the majority in colleges and universities.
In year 1958the National Defense Education Actauthorized federal financial assistance for American secondary school foreign language programs. This led to the rapid creation of new language labs. In the mid-1960 century there were an estimated 10,000 secondary-level and 4,000 post-secondary language labs in the United States. Once NDEA funding ended in 1969, the number of traditional language laboratories declined rapidly Usage of the audio-lingual method also declined following Noam Chomsky's criticism of behaviorist models of language learning.From the 1950s to the 1990s, most used tape-based systems. Current language labs generally contain multimedia.
●》Advantages of Language Lab :
● Development of LSRW skills
● Practice study rather than traditional study
● Learning language in entertaining and interactive way
● Recorder
● Self - Learning
● Progressive model promote the natural learning
● Promote learner to achieve high Level of language progress
● Encourage communication
● Immediate feedback
● Use of more resources and varied activities than traditional classroom
●》 Disadvantages of Language lab :
● Interrupted Power supply
● Expensive Equipment
● Lack of trained teacher
● Lack of patience of learners
● Lack of facilities of Audio recording
