Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Language labs help hone communication skills

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

Students at the language lab in the Tholkappiar campus of the University of Madras on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: S. Mageshwari is confident of facing interviews now. The first-generation college student had difficulty in conversing in English. Ever since she started attending the language labs set up at the University of Madras, she has been exposed to computer-aided techniques for developing language skills. “I have understood the difference in the language and mannerisms used while conversing with a professor, friend or senior colleague,” says the post-graduate student of journalism.

Like Mageshwari, there are many students who are making use of the language labs to improve their communication skills. The language labs were launched at the three campuses of the University of Madras last academic year to hone the communication skills of students and to make them employable. Here, students learn at their own pace and assess their proficiency by listening to audio and video materials to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

“Science subjects have laboratories to help students understand concepts better. The language labs enable students to learn the language with ease,” says S. Armstrong, co-ordinator, Language Laboratories and Reader, Department of English, University of Madras.

All post-graduate students of the university are enrolled in this programme and credits are also given. “Sometimes, teachers may not have received the best language training. It is also not possible for one teacher to train students on various accents as the console can,” he adds. The software has voices recorded in British, American and neutral accents.

“The lab classes help students master the nuances of a second language with a focus on removing the influence of the mother tongue while conversing,” says Shaifali Veda, a soft-skills trainer.

Nalini Singaravel, associate professor, Department of English, Women's Christian College, says compared to written examinations the labs are helpful to assess the functional proficiency in a language. Research scholars who are preparing for foreign language examinations use the labs.

However, Ms.Singaravel says these labs are not a substitute for teachers. “The computer consoles only enable students to answer to the pre-programmed questions. But when a student wants to write or say something beyond what has been programmed, the computers will not be helpful. Though the labs attempt at bringing uniformity in the proficiency of language, the individual capacity and doubts vary,” she says.

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