ESL Teaching and Learning Tips
I realize there are money concerns for those wanting to start a language lab. I've thought about the issue a lot the last few days, and I've come to a conclusion: the most rudimetary lab is better than none at all.
Here is my idea for what I call a 'bare-bones', budget language lab that would make Fred Flintstone proud:
YOU, the EFL teacher, could meet each of your students one-on-one in an isolated setting. You could prompt your students for responses using basic Q-cards and scripts. This will allow each student to move at his/her own pace and 'replay' segments if necessary. It also will help you gauge, on the fly, his/her progress and need for further practice in each section/segment/topic.
The only problem I see is the time issue. How would a teacher be able to meet with ALL his students and meet his teaching commitments? At my school, I would meet 530 students x 15 minutes to 30 minutes each in the 'lab' every week.....That's far more hours than there are total in a week, so it wouldn't work.
Any ideas/thoughts/stories?
E