TEACHING AIDS: LANGUAGE LAB AND INTERNET

INTRODUCTION

A teaching aid is anything utilized by a teacher to assist teach a lesson or make it more engaging to students. Teaching aids can come in almost any aspect. Some of the most familiar are pictures, videos, charts, flashcards, and objects, like three-dimensional models or educational toys. The term teaching aid is used to recognize such materials as being a supplement to basic teaching (for example, teaching through a lecture). Teaching aids are aspired to engage students in the topic being taught. 

Today, numerous types of teaching aids are available and they are primarily classified into three categories -Visual Aids, Audio Aids and Audio-Visual Aids. The aids which employ the sense of vision are called Visual aids. For example:- actual objects, models, pictures, charts, maps, flashcards, flannel board, bulletin board, chalkboard, overhead projector, slides etc. Out of these blackboard and chalk are the traditional ones.

The aids that encompass the sense of hearing are called Audio aids. For example- radio, tape recorder, audio lectures etc. The aids which involve the sense of vision as well as hearing are called Audio-Visual aids. For example:- television, film projector, film strips, Language Lab etc.

IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING AIDS

Teaching aids play a crucial role in the Teaching-Learning process. The significance of Teaching aids are as follows:-

1) Motivation

2) Clarification

3) Discouragement of Cramming

4) Increase the Vocabulary

5) Saves Time and Money

6) Avoids Dullness

7) Active and Live classrooms

8)Direct Experience

NEED OF TEACHING AIDS

1) Every individual is inclined to forget. Proper use of teaching aids helps to maintain more concepts permanently.

2) Students can comprehend better when they are stimulated properly through different teaching aids.

3) Teaching aids formulate the proper image when the students see, hear taste and smell suitably.

4) Teaching aids contribute a comprehensive example for conceptual thinking.

5) The teaching aids generate an environment of interest for the students.

6) Teaching aids helps to enhance the vocabulary of the students.

7) Teaching aids assists the teacher to get some time and make learning permanent.

8) Teaching aids give direct experience to the students.

LANGUAGE LAB

Learners from diverse cultures feel arduous to learn English and its mastery. The yearning for English language learning requires some solution. The language lab is a technological break for imparting skills in English. The language lab proposes an exclusive result oriented learning process which is productive to augment proficiency in  English. Contrary to the traditional teaching method with the affluent teaching material contents, the digital language lab motivates students’ learning attitude, thereby procuring an interactive learning environment. Foreign language learning entrusts itself inherently to the use of media. The language lab is the remedy and need of the hour to learn the English language in an effective yet engaging manner. The quality of the language proficiency will be doubled when they learn it from the multimedia, digital and computerised Language Lab. By the high merit of its distinctive equipment and its explicit pedagogy, it stands out. 

A language laboratory acknowledges the validity and prevalence of extensive individual differences in language aptitude. Its approach and method are essentially individualistic in manner. A language laboratory permits much time for oral and auditory understandings. It facilitates the opportunities for students to hear the language spoken by a native and to practice speaking in the language themselves. A language laboratory furnishes an adequately designed and precisely produced pattern of drills and accordingly alleviates the teacher of continual repetition of patterns. Language labs are evolving as highly esteemed teaching aids because they propose students a structured e-Learning environment that is triumphant and credible. New technologies are accentuating in contemporary classrooms as they promote the teacher’s role in creating a more impressive learning environment for the student and can propose to their students more practice hours and up-to-date exercises than can be found in language books. Essentially language laboratory is a self-learning device. It facilitates the learner to hear the language spoken from recorded tapes and to practice speaking in the same 

manner. The language laboratory focuses on listening (understanding) and speaking, leaving the other two processes reading and writing to be developed later. While speaking, it intends for the advancement of correct pronunciation, intonation and accent. It also formulates an ability to use the words, idioms and phrases in the language in the appropriate way. 

  The language laboratory is an audio-visual installation used in modern teaching methods to learn foreign languages. Conceivably the first lab was at the University of Grenoble. The language lab proposes an exclusive result oriented and efficient to enrich the English language learning process. The multimedia-based language lab enables to learn and strengthen language expertness by sharing the course materials within a second where the teacher and the students are involved skillfully. The language lab is developed on the methodology of LSRW skills.

 ROLE OF LANGUAGE LABORATORY IN DEVELOPING LANGUAGE SKILLS

A language laboratory is an effective tool for practising and evaluating one’s efficiency in any language. It procures a faculty that enables the student to listen to model pronunciation, repeat and record the same, listen to their performance and distinguish with the model, and do self-assessment. Since the language laboratory provides the learner of any language the autonomy to learn at their own pace, it is adaptable and does not certainly require a teacher all the time. At the same time, teachers can encourage the students individually and collectively. The language laboratory qualifies every participant his or her privacy to speak and listen.

1. STUDENTS LEARN RAPIDLY IN THE LANGUAGE LAB

Practice makes a man perfect! Practice directs to language learning accomplishment! The interactive courses are available in the language lab which supports students learning rapidly than in a regular classroom environment. The methodology of the classroom language network utilizes an advanced model to facilitate natural learning, where students learn the varied concepts of language intuitively. The language lab upgrades the motivation of students to attain higher levels of language retention and progress.

2. A LANGUAGE LAB IS PRACTICAL

Learning a new language merely by studying the theory is not adequate to guarantee a 

flourishing language learning experience. Language labs engage the students entertainingly and interactively to acquire the 4 main language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Students acquire more thoroughly through a language lab. It promotes the idea of Self-learning.  Language labs enable students to fortify material learned in class by putting them into practice through interactive activities. Moreover, teachers know the improvement of each student and earn reports of strengths and weaknesses to better harmonize the classroom activities.

3. USING MORE RESOURCES AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

Language labs allow students to practice the language with a much deeper diversity of activities and exercises based on the computer. Learning occurs in a structured way, in a real context and visually attractive way that immerses the student in

the language learning environment and promotes language use. The students can watch videos, practice their pronunciation through a speech recognizer, learn new vocabulary, and much more.

4. THE TEACHER HAS A MORE SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE LANGUAGE LAB

The language lab provides additional materials that only facilitate the 

role of the instructor rather than compete with the traditional teaching patterns. The teacher can then concentrate on the significant parts of the course rather than waste time explaining everything. The structure of the language lab courses also facilitates the work teacher put in when preparing lessons and allows them to prepare them in less time and with a greater volume of interactive resources. It provides timely updates and reports of the learners to make the process complete.

5. LANGUAGE LABS ENABLE VARIOUSNESS IN THE CLASSROOM

Language laboratories give teacher attention to students, especially in the case of schools with different levels because as interactive courses, language labs are modified to the individual needs of students. Moreover, monitoring and evaluation in real-time helps the teacher knows exactly what course objectives pose major difficulties for the student and can 

enhance the class accordingly.

 6. LABS ENHANCE COMMUNICATION IN THE CLASSROOM

Language labs motivate communication between student-teacher as well as student-student with activities and exercises essential to oral communication and the understanding of the language. The labs encompass tools for creating groups, hosting conversations via chat, promoting messages on the board, access to a community of students who are also studying the same language, etc.

 7. LANGUAGE LABS ARE AN INTUITIVE TOOL FOR BOTH THE STUDENT AND TEACHER

This method of learning does not require professional technical skills for use in the classroom, the teacher only needs basic computer skills and students will welcome the added technology they are already so adept with.

8. LANGUAGE LABS OPTIMIZE COMPUTING RESOURCES

Language labs are a very comprehensive and cost-effective tool for educational 

institutions to monetize their language training and also offer students effective language learning via the latest technology and educational content. They are the precise solution for 

designing a structured academic curriculum following the objectives of an educational centre with an international vocation audience that seeks the highest quality in teaching.

INTERNET AS A TEACHING AID

Language learning has taken a progressive shift from the days of, learning through translations, to using audio-video aids, to today’s technology integrated learning. Taking the teaching process to another level is the recent innovation in English Language Teaching - the Internet integrated language labs. Internet usage as technology has its roots in the 1950s and by mid-1990 it became a revolutionary tool in communication. Electronic mail, instant messaging, Voice over Internet Protocol, two-way interactive video calls, worldwide web with its discussion forums, blogs, social networking and online shopping sites had increased the pace of communication globally. Computer-assisted language learning dominated the 20th century and paved the way to technology-enhanced classrooms. Incorporating web-based activities in the curriculum is the next step to these classrooms to realize the main objective in a communication skills program that is nurturing effective communication skills in a student.

The Internet has become a major tool for effective teaching as well as a learning tool. Teachers can use it as a teaching tool by posting their teaching materials (notes and videos) on the school website or forum. The learning process becomes interesting and diverse with the use of tutorial videos and notes. Teachers can teach with the use of animation, PowerPoint slides, and images to capture the students’ attention. The Internet can be seen as a repository of free materials that can be beneficial for students and teachers in the classroom access to thousands of books, games, websites, etc., teachers can provide a world of knowledge for their students for no additional charges connects students globally adding to multicultural education by bridging the “cultural gap".

Why do Teachers use the Internet!?

In "NetLearning: Why Teachers Use the Internet," Serim Ferdi suggests ten main reasons why teachers use the Internet:

1. To find low-cost or free materials

2. To connect the classroom to the larger world

3. To help teachers manage time more efficiently

4. To motivate students.

5. To give students opportunities to learn by doing.

6. 6. To expand opportunities for "telementoring"

7. To help teachers communicate and share experiences and ideas with other teachers

8. To help bring the school and the community closer together.

9. To help teachers spread the good news about what's happening in their classrooms.

10. To "rejuvenate" teachers' professional lives.

ROLE OF INTERNET IN EDUCATION

1. Cost-Effective and Affordable Education

2. Student-Teacher and Peer Interaction

3. Effective Teaching and Learning Tool

4. Easy Access to Quality Education

5. Interaction with Digital Media

6. Keeping you updated with Latest Information

7. Learning with Multimedia