Language Labs
Spoken English Linguaphone Language Labs
When students improve their Spoken English they have excellent communications skills, and get better job placement and better starting salaries. They also get admission to better colleges, and courses both in India and abroad. That’s why we say - master English and master your world.
Lotus Learning has pioneered Spoken English Language Labs, using the Linguaphone 21 curriculum and Eyespeak software. Nearly 500 universities, colleges and schools all over the country have installed Linguaphone Labs, and their students are speaking much better English.
In addition, the State Governments in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra have introduced these Spoken English Language Labs to help their students improve their job prospects, or the standard of English that their teachers speak.
We have had excellent feedback from educators and students on the Spoken English Linguaphone Labs.
Click here to see some of our Language Labs in action.
In the next few years, every educational institution will have a Language Lab
How to pick the right Language Lab
Our students learn how to read, and write English. But they tend to lack confidence when it comes to Spoken English.
There are over 10,000 programs to teach Spoken English. How does one pick the right one?
There are two key questions to ask in picking the right Spoken English course:
a. How good is the Curriculum?
A course is only as good as the curriculum it is based on. Is the course based on an internationally recognized syllabus? Who are the experts behind the course? What methodology does the course use? How is Spoken English taught? How much command does it give the student? How is testing done? Is there any recognized certification?
b. Does the course need special English teachers?
Our teachers are good at teaching reading and writing, but face challenges when it comes to Spoken English. If the course needs special teachers, where can they be found? Does the course have a built in teacher?
Linguaphone 21 is the best Spoken English program.
L21 is based on the Council’s Waystage syllabus which is the internationally recognized curriculum for gaining command over English.
The Academic Advisory Council of Linguaphone comprises the world’s top experts in the English language. The Chairman Lord Quirk is acknowledged to the world’s leading authority on grammar.
The L 21 methodology is based on 3 key principles :
- L21 follows the Natural Method: Listen. Understand. Speak – the way we all learned our mother tongue, to teach Global Spoken English.
- L21 is based on learning English through the principle of Guided Total Immersion (GTI). You learn to think English and speak in English with fluency and command.
- L21 uses the ‘Communicative Method’ that is recommended by the Council of Europe as the state of the art way of learning a new language. It is completely interactive. There are 1554 activities. The learner starts speaking the new language, right from the first lesson.
L21 overcomes the 5 main challenges faced while learning a new language:
1.Vocabulary
2.Expression
3.Grammar
4.Pronunciation
5.Translation.
It teaches the 4 communications skills – Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening.
L21 has 28 learning units, and contains the following components:
- 16 hours of recorded materials
- 28 units of study in 8 volumes
- 7 units of study on VCD
L 21 has 4 levels: Basic, Fluent, Confident and Command. On successfully completing the program, the student can expect an active working vocabulary of 2500 words. All situations in personal, social and work life are covered
L 21 uses multimedia - reading, listening and seeing media to impart the learning. As a result, the learning process becomes more dynamic: Listen-Understand-Record-Compare-See-Speak.
L21 uses native speakers to impart a global accent, pronunciation and usage. This helps neutralize the mother tongue influence on the accent – a major factor for job seekers.
L21 teaches grammar. Grammar is used in context, so it is learned along with the language and not as a set of rules.
Every learning unit in L 21 has practice and revision built into the program. There are Tests built into the course, at each step, so that progress is constantly being monitored.
L 21 has built in testing. There are 1363 Activity Tests, 28 Unit Tests, and 4 Level Tests. This intensive testing ensures a lot of review and reinforcement. The students administer the test on their own, and the teachers’ role is merely to coordinate and trouble shoot.
L21 is a flexible program. It can be implemented in the following formats:
- A one year program( one period a day)
- A two year program( two to three periods a week)
- A four year program ( one period a week)
- A crash four month program for all four levels
The L 21 program has been externally assessed to give attainable success on the TOEFL TOEIC exams.
The L 21 Correspondence Course and Certification
The L 21 Correspondence Course is a four level testing program, based on the content of the program. On completing the 191 activities of the course, the learner will get written Certification from Linguaphone and Lotus.
The Eyespeak Speech Recognition Software
Lotus now offers the world class curriculum of Linguaphone and the advanced speech recognition software of Eyespeak. Eyespeak has 7 features:
1. Placement Tests to assess the entry level skills of the learner.
2. The Four Levels of L 21 with practice and evaluation. The software evaluates the learner’s voice along 4 parameters : Pronunciation, Pitch, Timing and Loudness and gives marks.
3. Role plays derived from L 21 to allow the learner to practice speech in a real life context.
4. American English sound lessons.
5. American English dictionary and practice.
6. Progress Report
7. Oral Certification
L 21 and Eyespeak are Self Study programs – no teacher is needed
Both L 21 and Eyespeak are self study programs, and do not need a teacher. They are meant to be used by the students on their own. In a class room context, the teacher’s role is to coordinate and trouble shoot.
The course and software fulfill all the roles of the teacher: Teach, Correct, Mark, Improve, and maintain a Progress Report.
This has proved to be a great advantage in India, where it is often difficult to find good teachers who are proficient in Global Spoken English.
The Language Lab is self financing and will pay for itself in the first year itself.
Every institution has begun to charge a small fee for the use of the Language Lab.
The entire investment will be recovered in the first year or sooner.
After that the Language Lab provides a steady stream of revenue every year.
How to implement the Lab in your institution?
Install the Lab with the equipment on a ratio of one set per student.
Introduce Spoken English into the timetable, so that it is embedded into the educational curriculum.
Identify a coordinator who will work with a passion to make it a success.
Teacher Training
An intensive Four Day Teacher Training Program is built into the Lab Proposal. The teachers will be guided through all 4 Levels of L 21 and shown how to implement Eyespeak. The Curriculum Mapping for your institution will be prepared, and we will suggest how to integrate Spoken English into the timetable. The teachers will also conduct Mock Classes so that they are ready to implement the Lab from Day One.
We invite you to be a leader and install a Linguaphone Lab in your institution. Nearly 500 universities, colleges and schools have already taken the step, and their students are reaping great benefits.
