The Teaching Labs
We believe that cutting edge lab work stretches your potential. In the learning of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish here at Essex we use the latest version of Melissi Digital Classroom. This fantastic piece of software allows you to interact with other language students, record digitally, do individual and group work and simultaneously work on videos. You will learn to subtitle, interpret and check your own work. Melissi is really different because takes a step away from the traditional lab format where students were asked to do repetitive work without much guidance. On the contrary, our lab teaching is designed to give you skills for your future employment together with excellent competence in the languages studied.
Apart from Melissi, our labs are equipped with top of the range computers integrating audio-visual in-ceiling LCD projector and large screens. The labs have also multi-systems DVD and analog video, internet access and CD players. We routinely use a good variety of software from interactive grammar exercises to oral and aural programs.
The Open Access Lab has satellite TVs with DVD players. You will have plenty of opportunities to watch TV News and programs in the language(s) you are studying. In this space, you will also have self access to all the software described above. Furthermore, you will be able to practise on your own and carry out assigned work requiring specialized software.
The Media studio is a recording studio equipped like a TV studio. It has large cameras for audio video recording, computer facilities, LCD projector and chairs for a small audience. We use this room for a variety of purposes and tasks such as the video recording of role plays, News Reading, presentations and debates. You will have the opportunity to watch your work on a DVD disk and get a constructive feed-back on various aspects of your performance.
