Future of the Language Lab

[CATHERINE LAZAREFF SISKRON]

just a couple of thoughts:  our first year language classes are 5 units
and in the last year i have scheduled friday classes in the lab. this
approach works especially well for first semester students because a.
there is a tendency to feel lost and give up if oral/aural exercises seem
hard. 2. first semester students are the least likely to come to office
hours. 3. there are many demands on our student's time and way too many
distractions on the web. having an instructor (or assistant) in the
classroom helps students focus, keeps them on task, creates a safe
environment to ask questions, models the best (or at least what we think
is the best way) to approach working toward oral proficiency.

The equipment we have in the lab cannot be duplicated with lap tops,
projectors, etc.

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004, Tony Anemone wrote:

> Colleagues,
>
> As part of university-wide planning for the technology needs of the
> future, the language programs at William and Mary have been asked to
> think about the future of our Multi-Media Computing Center (what we
> used to call our Language lab).  For example, we have been asked to
> list the specific activities that faculty and students in the modern
> languages and literatures presently use and anticipate using in the
> future.  Two parts of the agenda driving the discussion are that W & M
> is moving to have all undergraduate students purchase standard laptop
> computers and a new media center is about to open in the library.  Both
> of these initiative are seen by the people in Information Technology
> and the Dean's office as good reasons to downsize or close the lab or
> to transform it into a high-tech teaching and training facility.
>
> I would appreciate hearing from any colleagues who have experience with
> such issues or strong opinions about the future of language labs. e.g.,
>   Do you think that laptop technology in the hands of faculty and
> students renders language labs obsolete?  Are there unanticipated
> problems that you have experienced with similar transformations at your
> universities?  Do you agree that textbooks with instructional trapes,
> CDs or DVDs, and Windows computers on which one can tape, save and
> share speech excerpts, etc. can indeed fulfill the traditional
> functions of the lab.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> Tony Anemone, Chair MLL
> Associate Professor of Russian
> P.O. Box 8795
> Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
> College of William and Mary
> phone:          757-221-3636
> fax:            757-221-3637
>
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