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Thus there are a number of benefits of using these multimedia language laboratories as a
medium of instruction:
1. Multimedia increases the teacher student interaction because it provides us with ample
number of channels to communicate i.e.
video chat, text chat, voice chat. It also incorporates a lot of
audio visual elements.
2. Multimedia laboratories covers all the aspects of language learning such as grammar,
pronunciation, vocabulary, free speech, intonation and modulation and remedies to relieve the
pupils from the regional influences of the mother tongue.
3. Multimedia laboratories enhance the retention level of the students because the students can
watch the lessons visually as compared to just being a passive listener. They get an opportunity to
watch even the missed pre- recorded classes and presentations. The full featured archives also
contribute in revising the lessons any time. Important classroom sessions can also be recorded for
the future reference.
4. Multimedia laboratories can compensate for the shortage or lack of quality faculty. The
recorded lectures through digital libraries can be used where the expert teachers are not available.
Even the live interactive lectures by experts can also be broadcasted.
5. These laboratories deliver an opportunity for the students to keep an entire hold on their
own learning. The software involved let the pupil work according to their capacity and also
provides instant feedback for constant improvement.
6. Multimedia also helps the students to resolve their weaknesses in terms of pronunciation.
Irrespective of teacher‘s accent, the students get hold of the correct accent as the practice on these
gadgets is imparted by expert‘s neutral accent which is free of various regional influences.
7. Multimedia also empowers the learners to do the self assessment because of its unique
feature of listening – recording and comparing which again provides an opportunity for self
evaluation. The learners can also track their own progress through the course and generate
personalized performance reports. In a way such infrastructure helps the learners to sharpen their
abilities along with providing privacy during practice with no embarrassment or fear of evaluation
by their peers or superiors.
8. These laboratories not only help the learners acquire this foreign language but also allow
them to give a complete makeover to their personality too. A lot of programs in these laboratories
include the group discussions, presentations, role plays, personal interview skills etc. Along with
this they can sharpen their intellectual capability, enhance creativity, judge their approach to solve
various problems and prune their leadership skills through this multimedia infrastructure. It also
helps them develop confidence, competence and command over English language, thus making
them a perfect professional.
In conclusion, on the basis of the previous discussion, this study does not present enough
evidence to show that the communicative language teaching method is more effective than it is in
the traditional classroom. However, this study would like to suggest some directions for teachers'
reference. First, teachers should prepare themselves for the use of modern computer technology.
Foreign language training will not always take place in a traditional classroom. With the help of a
setting such as a multimedia laboratory, foreign language training will be more efficient. Teachers
should have the clear idea of how a traditional classroom is different from a multimedia laboratory.
To
serve that purpose well, this study summarizes the previous discussion as below.
Traditional classroom
Multimadia Laboratory
Layout
Matrix
Matrix
Teaching tools
Chalk, blackboard, audio tapes
Local
computer network, video on
demand.
Teaching
materials
Textbook
Interactive computer software
Communicative
activities
Imaginative role-play
Realistic computer-simulated
environment