Enhancing Instruction in World Languages

Leading-edge technology available in the lab facilitates innovative and engaging methods of language acquisition for both Middle School and Upper School students. Teachers may use the lab to individualize instruction, allowing students additional practice or new challenges as they develop their language skills. 

While working in the lab, students improve their listening skills as they hear a range of native accents in the language they are studying.  The high quality headsets and private stations help students to focus on the language by blocking out other distractions.  Students can control audio and video sources as needed, working at their own pace.  In one class, students may listen to a documentary from Mexico City, a radio interview from Buenos Aires and a music video from Puerto Rico. 

The world is truly brought to our students through a variety of internet activities as well as other audio visual materials.  Students might compare and contrast the French used in television commercials from Canada and Paris.   On-line newspapers from around the globe come to life with embedded video clips. Working in pairs, students are able to take a virtual field trip the Prado Museum in Spain and discuss different paintings in Spanish with their partner or teacher.

Students are able to practice the language without the pressure of speaking in front of their peers. The ability to scan audio responses gives the teacher valuable insight to student progress plus the ability to provide students with immediate feedback in complete privacy.  Teachers may record individual or paired activities for evaluation and later provide students with written or audio feedback.  Digital portfolios can easily be created to track student progress throughout their study of the language.