7 Modern English Language Lab Software Options That Hand You the Reins

English language labs are the hipsters of the digital classroom, bringing tech into ed before #edtech was even a thing.

With all the talk about current technology and what the future can bring, we sometimes forget to look to the past. There’s plenty to learn from examining the educational landscape already behind us.

So let’s go retro and check out an idea that’s stuck around for half a century: language labs.

Language labs were an idea ahead of their time, succeeding despite hardware glitches and technological limits. With today’s advanced technology, language labs are still finding their ways into classrooms, though in a slightly different form.

English educators can—and do—still use English language labs (physical or virtual) in the classroom to help students improve and practice their listening comprehension and speaking skills.

Which English language labs are right for your students? Let’s find out!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

What Are Language Labs?

Language labs are audio and audio-visual systems that help students learn new languages through listening and speaking.

In their heyday, old-school language labs required hardware to be set up in classrooms. The teacher occupied one master console while students sat at booths with mics. The teacher fed students educational content through a cassette-based system (remember cassettes?) which the students could then listen and respond to at their own pace.

Once they were ready, student used mics to record their own content and send it back to the teacher, who could then check the students’ work as it came in.

Language labs were meant to be used in a classroom setting. Though they are mostly relics of the past, some institutions still use them today. However, today’s labs tend towards the digital and software side (although some still require additional hardware), with a couple of open source platforms available for anyone who wants to do some tinkering to repurpose for their own classrooms.

English Language Labs, Then and Now

These technological marvels date back to the 1950s (with some existing even earlier than that) when the idea that rote memorization and repetition were the best methods for learning new languages.

They remained popular through the 1990s even while more advanced technology and a shifting educational landscape rendered them nearly obsolete.

Somehow, they survived. The spirit of the language lab lives on and there are numerous modern options available for classrooms around the world—with a few tweaks and upgrades, of course. Many of today’s labs are hybrids that use a combination of software, specially designed sound cards and personal networks. Today’s labs are no longer solely audio-centric, as most also use some kind of video and flash content.

Why Use Language Labs to Teach English?

There is a good number of compelling reasons to give language labs a try:

• You can use them to give every student individual attention, even in a large group setting.

• Students can take their time and progress at the pace that’s comfortable for them.

• You get to hear every student’s voice. Even students who would normally be too shy or intimidated to speak up in front of a large class feel more at ease working with labs.

• A number of modern labs have excellent modern English and ESL learning content, and most allow you to add and adapt your own content as well.

• Somewhat ironically, what used to be the most boring part of a language class can now be a fresh and engaging change from the norm.

Now you are ready to explore the world of English language labs. Here is a collection of modern language labs and alternatives to give you a taste of what to expect.

7 Modern English Language Lab Options

1. K-Van Solutions

Best for: Adult learners; career-centric and professional English learning.

Requirements: Software.

Despite the mild Engrish on the website, this is one of the better-known modern language labs out there. The K-Van Solutions language lab is a straightforward lab that sticks pretty close to the format and style of the original language lab systems (but ditches the cassettes, of course).

K-Van advertises pretty much everything you’d want to cover in an adult English learning class, from speech and idiom learning to resume writing and career development. K-Van’s lab also uses audio analysis to compare student and teacher sentence and word stress, as well as to correct pronunciation.

2. FluentU

Best for: Adult learners; any level and type of English.

Requirements: No need to download or install anything here—all you need is access to the FluentU website. From there, you can use materials online or download materials to go. However, if desired, you and your students can download the FluentU iPhone app or Android app.

FluentU is a tool used to make authentic videos accessible to your students at any level. There are many benefits to learning a language with real content from that language, since students get to hear vocabulary words and grammar concepts in natural use. This program also has the benefit of using content that learners are bound to enjoy, like movie clips, music videos, vlogs, funny commercials and other engaging media.

You can let students learn in the classroom or assign homework. From your students’ point of view, they’ll have the support of subtitles with on-demand definitions, easy flashcard creation and adaptive quizzes. From your end, you’ll have access to analytics on every student, including what videos they watched and which questions they got wrong (and right) in the quizzes.

You can even assign specific videos to specific students, for a truly targeted learning experience.

To take FluentU one step further, you can add a mic and recorder into the mix for a good dose of speaking practice. Just choose a clip and have students try to match or shadow-read the sentences with the video. You can get a simple and free sound recorder here.

3. Words Worth

Best for: Adult English learners in any size group; professional English learners; individual and supplemental learning.

Requirements: Software.

Many language labs are meant to be used in K – 12 classrooms (though of course they can easily be repurposed for other ages). Words Worth, on the other hand, is specifically designed with adult English learners in mind. The program is divided into three levels, each with 70 to 80 hours of content to help build vocabulary, communication skills and professional level English.

Words Worth is an excellent choice if you prefer your language lab content to already be compiled and ready to use. The program uses lessons like listening comprehension and pronunciation practice to prepare students for using English in a professional setting.

4. SANSSpace

Best for: On the go lessons, homework and other supplemental learning; visual learners.

Requirements: Software and/or mobile apps.

You will not need any special hardware for SANSSpace, which is designed to be accessed from practically any device. SANSSpace uses a combination of video and audio content, and lets users record their answers and thoughts. Teachers can then add specific comments and feedback during any part of the recording. This lab does not need a teacher’s constant presence, so it is perfect for homework or self-study outside of the classroom.

5. DiLL

Best for: Classrooms that run on Apple products.

Requirements: Macs and software.

Mac users rejoice—there is a language lab just for you.

DiLL uses Macs in place of installed hardware to deliver a fairly traditional language lab experience. All you need to run DiLL are networked Macs and teacher/student programs. This digital-only program uses a central server to save student work in real time and allows teachers to deliver content, pair students off, monitor the learning process and assist individual students.

6. Sanako

Best for: Students studying for the TOEFL; individual or supplemental learning; learners of British English.

Requirements: Software.

Sanako’s English language lab is specifically designed for ESL students and has TOEFL study content.

Sanako worked with Oxford University Press to design a system that does more than just encourage repetition. This lab has an advanced text-to-speech program which allows users to paste any block of text into the program and have it read out in an authentic British English accent. Teachers can curate playlists and assign them to students, who can then listen and record their answers for you to evaluate.

7. Repeat After Us

Best for: Virtual classrooms; supplementary and individual learning.

Requirements: Nothing—everything is hosted online and free.

The Repeat After Us website is a bit different from traditional language labs, but the idea is the same.

Designed by a high school student, the website is a compilation of recordings made by different people reading various texts. There’s no download necessary and anyone can browse the library for poetry readings, tongue twister recordings and much more. Keep in mind that some recordings are better than others, so check for quality before assigning students to work on a particular clip.

Used in conjunction with a mic and a recording program, Repeat After Us is an excellent resource for any teachers who are interested in trying language labs without needing to bother with software or hardware.

Language labs are alive and kicking, and may be right at home in your classroom.

Which lab option is the best for you?

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)