Language lab not yet open; student fees may fund software
Crystal Marshall
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
The class of 2009's gift to the college still hasn't arrived.
The language lab is not yet operational because of problems with copyright laws, funding and software selection. In addition, students may have to pay language class fees of at least $24 to help pay for the lab, said language professors.
Though the opening of the lab, located in the Knorr Student Center across the hall from the Wiegand Computer Lab, has been postponed, Professor of Spanish Sandra Puvogel said the delay is in students' best interest.
"We are trying to go about this process deliberately in order to select the best options for our students," she said.
Some of those options include Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone, two companies that create language software suited for use in a lab such as Hillsdale's.
Professor of French Ellen Justice-Templeton said each company's software features pronunciation guides and visual graphics to help students master a particular language's accentuation, grammar and vocabulary. Representatives from each company will meet with the language faculty during the coming months to pitch their software to the college.
Regardless of which company the college chooses to partner with, language students will have to contribute financially to the lab in order to use it. While the 2009 senior class gift funds paid for the hardware and other equipment in the lab, the college - and thus the students - must cover the costs for software and usage.
Costs for the 100 and 200-level language classes may be added as part of regular class fees, while students in upper-level language courses will pay $24 per semester if they decide to use the lab, Justice-Templeton said.
She said the $24 fee might actually be higher if the department does not meet a quota of 200 students who would use the lab.
Besides paying for software, the student lab fees will also go towards the purchase of foreign films and educational DVDs.
However, concerns over copyright laws have also contributed to the lab's delay in opening. The language department has discussed several different options with the library in order to insure the proper use of copyrighted media, Justice-Templeton said, including buying multiple copies of movies or DVDs that would be available in the lab, or placed on reserve in the library.
With all of the exciting features planned for the language lab, "the faculty is very anxious to get the lab up and running," Puvogel said. Justice-Templeton said she hoped the lab would be available for use sometime later in the semester.
Although the language faculty is eagerly anticipating the new lab, many students are not - many do not know it is even there.
"I've only had one student ask me about the lab so far this semester," Justice-Templeton said.
Though the lab is not yet operational, professors remained enthusiastic that it will assist students in learning, and loving, a foreign language.
"The lab will give students a chance to use language materials in between classes, in a distraction-free environment," Justice-Templeton said. "And additional practice," Puvogel said, "is always a good idea."
The language lab is not yet operational because of problems with copyright laws, funding and software selection. In addition, students may have to pay language class fees of at least $24 to help pay for the lab, said language professors.
Though the opening of the lab, located in the Knorr Student Center across the hall from the Wiegand Computer Lab, has been postponed, Professor of Spanish Sandra Puvogel said the delay is in students' best interest.
"We are trying to go about this process deliberately in order to select the best options for our students," she said.
Some of those options include Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone, two companies that create language software suited for use in a lab such as Hillsdale's.
Professor of French Ellen Justice-Templeton said each company's software features pronunciation guides and visual graphics to help students master a particular language's accentuation, grammar and vocabulary. Representatives from each company will meet with the language faculty during the coming months to pitch their software to the college.
Regardless of which company the college chooses to partner with, language students will have to contribute financially to the lab in order to use it. While the 2009 senior class gift funds paid for the hardware and other equipment in the lab, the college - and thus the students - must cover the costs for software and usage.
Costs for the 100 and 200-level language classes may be added as part of regular class fees, while students in upper-level language courses will pay $24 per semester if they decide to use the lab, Justice-Templeton said.
She said the $24 fee might actually be higher if the department does not meet a quota of 200 students who would use the lab.
Besides paying for software, the student lab fees will also go towards the purchase of foreign films and educational DVDs.
However, concerns over copyright laws have also contributed to the lab's delay in opening. The language department has discussed several different options with the library in order to insure the proper use of copyrighted media, Justice-Templeton said, including buying multiple copies of movies or DVDs that would be available in the lab, or placed on reserve in the library.
With all of the exciting features planned for the language lab, "the faculty is very anxious to get the lab up and running," Puvogel said. Justice-Templeton said she hoped the lab would be available for use sometime later in the semester.
Although the language faculty is eagerly anticipating the new lab, many students are not - many do not know it is even there.
"I've only had one student ask me about the lab so far this semester," Justice-Templeton said.
Though the lab is not yet operational, professors remained enthusiastic that it will assist students in learning, and loving, a foreign language.
"The lab will give students a chance to use language materials in between classes, in a distraction-free environment," Justice-Templeton said. "And additional practice," Puvogel said, "is always a good idea."
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