Lesson from Language Laboratory Visit

In semester 6, we take Language Laboratory Management subject. In this subject, we learn about everything that is related to the Language Laboratory, especially about the management of the Language Laboratory. We learn about how to manage a language laboratory. In the middle semester, we are given an assignment. We have to visit a language laboratory of a school, to observe the condition of the language laboratory.  

Finally, we chose SMAN Tempeh, Lumajang as the object for our language laboratory visit. On Friday, April 13^th 2012, we went to SMAN Tempeh for visit the language laboratory. One of the English teachers in SMA Tempeh, Mrs. Endah greeted us and soon took us to the language laboratory. My first impression was surprised. The language laboratory looks like old. The condition of the tools is not quite good anymore. There are 30 booths, but only half of it which is can work well. The half ones are broken. That is the main problem of this language laboratory. Although the condition of language laboratory doesn’t support the learning activities well, but the teachers and students of SMAN Tempeh utilize it well. The English teachers use this language laboratory to teach listening and they combine with speaking and writing.

From this visit, I have got some lesson I can be learned. The condition of language laboratory and the enthusiasm of the teachers and the students of this school have taught me that limitation doesn’t make the enthusiasm of something being lost. It is even make us to be motivated. We have to study hard. If the things that we need do not support our activity, we are not allowed to give up, we can find the other alternative to face it. It is better if we do not depend on the facilities at all. Like the condition of the language laboratory in SMAN Tempeh, the broken equipments, the limitation of the facilities, do not being barriers for the teacher and the students to do the teaching - learning activities, they still can use the language laboratory well, although it doesn’t support well.

Another that, I can learn about cooperation in this visit. Cooperation is an important thing in this case. The cooperation is badly needed, in order to maintain the language laboratory. In SMAN Tempeh, I see the cooperation among the teachers, and also the cooperation between teachers and students to maintain the language laboratory is well. They use the laboratory wisely, because they know that the condition of their language laboratory doesn’t well anymore.