The landscape of language education is constantly evolving. Technology is undoubtedly playing an increasingly important role, offering new tools and resources that enhance the learning experience and make it more accessible. However, as we’ve seen with the rise of AI, some educators are concerned that online solutions like virtual language labs could replace them altogether.
Here’s the good news: virtual language labs are not designed to take over classrooms or to remove teachers from teaching. Instead, they are powerful tools that can empower educators by streamlining tasks, reducing workload and providing new approaches for more engaging instruction.
This blog post explores how virtual language labs can redefine the role of the language educator, transforming them from taskmasters into learning guides who can facilitate more dynamic and effective learning environments.
What is a virtual language lab?
A virtual language lab is, in many ways, like a traditional language lab that you might find in a school. But instead it exists entirely online. This digital platform is a game changer for language teaching and is accessible to any student anytime, anywhere.
They can practise pronunciation, conduct pair / group conversations,and complete interactive exercises – all online. This frees up valuable time for deeper discussions and activities in class, while still giving students the focused practice and targeted feedback they need to truly master their target language.
Freeing up teachers’ time
Language teachers often find themselves bogged down in highly repetitive tasks like drilling pronunciation, marking tests / homework exercises and creating vocabulary flashcards. These activities, while essential, can be really time-consuming and leave less room for more personalised instruction and student support.
Virtual language labs excel at automating these tasks. Interactive exercises with personalised learning paths allow students to practise independently and progress at their own pace. Learners can also receive timely feedback from the lab or from the teacher.
This frees up valuable time for educators to focus on what they do best. With more time available, educators can offer one-on-one support, providing tailored instruction and feedback to students. Teachers can focus on addressing specific student needs and tailor their teaching approach accordingly. Furthermore, whilst virtual labs are handling core, foundational exercises, educators can dedicate class time to higher level learning outcomes such as in-depth discussions, analysis of authentic materials and collaborative task-based learning projects.
Transforming learning with virtual language labs
Traditional language learning can sometimes feel passive and fails to capture student interest. Particularly for those students who have grown up with smartphones and who are resolutely digital first.
Virtual language labs therefore provide a solution to this challenge, by incorporating digital elements that make learning fun and engaging. Educators can deliver any live or asynchronous language teaching activity they want, either in the classroom or remotely. With Sanako Connect, for example, students can easily conduct pair or group conversations, engage in role-playing scenarios or collaborate on creative writing projects – all within the platform. This shift towards active learning focuses on language production, building language fluency and fostering deeper understanding.
Tools for effective language instruction
Virtual language labs are also powerful tools that enhance the educator’s skillset. This is particularly true when it comes to developing students’ speaking and listening skills, where virtual language labs can offer a dynamic solution for educators seeking to propel their students towards fluency.
Virtual labs provide a safe and supportive space for students to hone their speaking skills. Here’s how:
- Interactive speaking practice: Built-in speech recognition technology offers immediate feedback, pinpointing pronunciation errors and guiding students towards accurate articulation. No more fear of sounding out of place – virtual labs empower students to practise until they perfect their spoken language.
- Live conversations: Similarly Sanako Connect is easily able to facilitate live group and pair discussions. Teachers can set up groups and pairs for live discussion activities and role plays to increase speaking practice time. They can also easily monitor each group and collect individual group recordings for review and feedback.
- Group discussions: Virtual language labs can also facilitate collaborative learning activities focused on spoken language. Dedicated online spaces enable students to practise role-playing scenarios, debate current events, or engage in group presentations – all within the safe and supportive environment of the virtual lab. Educators can monitor these sessions, offer real-time guidance, and identify students who might benefit from additional support.
- Real-world scenarios: Built on the resources and scenarios educators develop / provide, students can be quickly immersed in simulated conversations, role-playing activities, and interactive dialogues. Either with their peers, with students from another school, with external partners or with native speakers.
- Recording & playback: Encourage students to record themselves and playback for self-assessment. This allows them to identify areas for improvement and celebrate their progress, building confidence in their speaking abilities.
Of course, improving students’ listening skills is also a key part of developing their speaking skills. Here’s how virtual language labs can make a real difference here:
- Exposure to diverse voices & accents: Virtual language labs offer a global classroom experience, so students can easily access audio recordings from native speakers with various accents and backgrounds. Students learn to decipher nuances in spoken language, preparing them for real-world conversations.
- Interactive listening activities: Go beyond passive listening exercises. Educators can use their virtual language labs to present students with engaging activities like gap-filling exercises, dictation tasks, and comprehension quizzes. These dynamic activities enhance focus and retention, leading to improved listening skills.
- Adjustable difficulty levels: Tailor the listening experience to individual needs. Virtual labs provide a variety of materials with adjustable difficulty levels, ensuring students are challenged yet not discouraged.
More broadly, online language platforms can also act as springboards for collaborative and creative language projects like recording podcasts, filming short video presentations or developing digital storytelling projects. These activities encourage students to express themselves confidently in the spoken language, while simultaneously enhancing their vocabulary, creativity and communication skills.
While virtual language labs offer undeniable advantages, language teaching and learning will always retain a strong human element. Language is more than just vocabulary and grammar; it’s a living expression of culture, emotions and society.
A skilled educator can guide students through the nuances of these aspects – helping them read body language, understand cultural references and navigate the complexities of human interaction in different contexts. These subtleties are difficult to replicate entirely within a digital environment.
Furthermore, the human connection between teacher and student is unique and irreplaceable. It fosters motivation, creates a safe space for experimentation, and allows for real-time feedback and adaptation to individual learning needs. At Sanako, we recognise that virtual labs are powerful tools that enhance the human experience of language learning, but they’ll never beat the irreplaceable impact of a passionate and insightful educator.
Ready to explore how Sanako’s virtual language lab could empower you and support your language teaching? Contact us now to arrange your FREE demo!