"Language in a Lab"

I finally got my Google Alerts working properly and an interesting article from The Fiji Times Online was brought to my attention. In this article, Ravnil Narayan from Fiji National University, basically pitches the concept of a Language Lab to help his country improve in learning the English language.  Narayan (2017) states that though English has become essential to young Fijian students to advance their careers, quality programs and language teaching in general is deteriorating in Fiji.  He believes that with the help of technology and online learning, students can become more proficient L2 learners.

As there have always been science programs conducted in laboratories, the author does not feel it is a stretch to imagine language being learned in one as well as they have seen growth from students in such a setting in Australia and New Zealand (Narayan, 2017).  Students would be utilizing technology ranging from simple headsets to “creating broadcasts, televised interactions, web-assisted materials, and video/audio taped off-air recordings in the target language” (Narayan, 2017, p. 2).

Narayan (2017) goes on to detail what he considers as the four main types of language labs that students could take advantage of.  The first is a conventional lab where a teacher hits play on a tape recorder for students to listen to recordings, which the author points out is probably the least effective of the four.  Second, the lingua phone lab, consists mainly of the previous lab’s technique, but utilizes headphones for each student instead to avoid distraction from others.  This would then allow for students to work individually on their own language learning as well.  Third, computer-assisted language learning (CALL), is where teachers would incorporate computers into their daily lessons to help teach students a target language.  Finally, the fourth is called the multimedia high-tech lab where language learning software is implemented at all learning levels to address the needs of all types of learners. 

Mr. Narayan brings up some great points and presents a general overview of advantages Fijian students would have if they incorporated more technology into the classroom for language learning.  I also think that if the same programs are working well for neighboring countries, then they should also have more data to suggest they modernize and upgrade their teaching methods and tools.  As this would be a jump into the online/computer-based world for many Fijian ELLs, I feel that well rounded and though-out teacher education programs should be devised first to ensure that they are able to get their feet underneath them before moving into this.  But again, partnering up with Australia or New Zealand may be an answer. 

Perhaps Fiji may decide to roll out these labs using the first two detailed in the article where they are less intense than other, but a step in the right direction.  I would hope that with continued efforts by Fijians like Narayan, they would be able to quickly and effectively transition to CALL and multimedia high-tech labs.  Small steps first to build an effective and lasting program?

References

Narayan, R. (2017, June 9). Language in a lab. Retrieved from http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspxid=403847