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SWALLT Featured Lab
2006-2007
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The mission of the Barbara Ann Ward Language Center at California State University, Northridge is to serve as a language acquisition and teaching resource facility primarily for the students and faculty of the College of Humanities.
By making multimedia materials (audio/video/CD/DVD/software), equipment
and individual training available at the center, students are encouraged
to use technology to enhance their language learning experience.
Faculty teaching language courses are given as much support and training
as needed by the director and staff of the Center to help supplement
traditional methodology with current technology.
Director's Function
The BAW LC Director researches new technologies and media materials as they become available and, after review and consultation with the BAW LC Committee, suggests ways of incorporating them into language courses. In addition the Language Learning Resource Center provides small group workshops as new technologies are implemented and serves as a clearinghouse for language study for high schools and community colleges in the surrounding area.
The Director reports to the Chair of Modern and Classical Languages and to the Dean of the College of Humanities. The BAW LC serves 13 languages; 50+ faculty members and is staffed with 6-7 student employees.
The lab supports all languages (13) within MCLL and provides support for College of Humanities (English, Philosophy, Linguistics, Liberal Studies, ect). The lab administers Placement tests for French and Spanish and facilitates Masters Examinations. Additionally, the LC provides support to ESL and the Intensive English Program. An MOU was negotiated by the lab director and has been in effect since 2001. The MOU provides much needed financial support for the LC. In return ESL/IEP classes meet in the LC daily for testing and TESOL practice.
The LC (50' x 48') unique design (a central pie shaped area with
integrated faculty station) allows for classroom style instruction while
the peripheral equipment is made available for drop in library style
access. All lab machines have a split sound card accommodating two headsets and microphones at each desktop. The 6 TV/VCR combo
stations also allow for tandem use. The lab is a fully integrated 'smart
room' with a data projector connected to: faculty PC, multistandards
DVD, NTSC VCR, University cable network, networked printer, document
camera, receiver, etc., laptop can be connected to the 'rack' via VGA
cabling. All peripherals are controlled via a remote, minimizing
faculty stress in operating the equipment.
A small (10-12 student capacity) satellite viewing room is provided for group work, videotaping, etc.
The LC is equipped with a fully compliant ADA station.
More About The Barbara Ann Ward Language Center
The lab is often used for K-12 workshops, community functions, and university presentations such as international film nights.
The BAW LC was the first facility on campus to move analog audio (Japanese program)
to digital format and to stream in from the server. Starting with Spring 2006, the Japanese audio program is also being offered in podcast format. A pod cast of the lab's
orientation video is also available to students.
The LC and its staff support faculty web page creation and the template developed (in house) and used for this purpose meets ADA section 508 accessibility and usability compliance.
The BAW LC home page is: http://www.csun.edu/~llrc4mcl/