Dear LLTI We are delighted to announce the launch of Soundbooth Plus our surprisingly sophisticated but affordable digital language lab. Full details, with examples of content and teacher monitoring, can be found on www.soundbooth.eu but some major features are as follows: What does it do? Develops the four skills of language learning Can be used with any language - Unicode based Utilises existing resources; audio, text books, worksheets and graphics Enables live monitoring of an individual student or a group of students Provides private communication between the teacher and student or a group of students Enables synchronous questioning and recording of responses Allows easy Assessment - All student work is saved as mp3 files or interactive web pages The addition of a headset with a microphone turns any pc network into a language lab How does it do it? Using two small software programmes, a student module and a teacher module, that will run on virtually any pc and network. Items containing text, graphics and audio recordings are viewed by students who can record themselves and can also enter text or make selections. The teacher can communicate to students individually, or by group, and can monitor progress live. All pcs should be on the same subnet but NO server is required only storage space for student's work and lessons. The software is written in Java and C++ and needs JRE which is packaged with it. Windows XP (SP2) is the minimum specification. A Mac version will be available later in the year. What do we need? Lessons are created using any web editor capable of using tables, text, text boxes, graphics, drop down menus, radio buttons and check boxes. Content can be copied and pasted form existing resources. The audio tracks can be any mp3 existing or recorded resource using freeware audio editing software e.g. Audacity, to insert recording pauses. HTML links can be included to any other resource or web page Lesson folders are simply dropped in to the master lessons folder or removed if not needed. Synchronous questioning to a group, or all students, as well as the ability to use external media players as the audio resource is included. Assessment? Apart from live monitoring all audio files are saved as mp3 files and any text or selection input is saved as an interactive web page for printing or viewing on any browser. Away from the lab? A version, minus the teacher communication module, is provided on memory sticks so students can have the same language lab experience at home or on their laptop. It uses the same lessons and all input is saved for revision or assessment purposes. Pricing? This is based on a concurrent user base. For up to 30 seats the cost is $7000.00, 30-50 seats $9000.00, 50-200 seats $12000. The personalised stand-alone version is provided on memory sticks at $10 each with no licensing restrictions. Alternatively a master disc can be supplied for duplication at the institution for $2000. Please contact us if you would like to download a full working version Regards Kate Hammond www.langlabresources.co.uk *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning (http://iallt.org/), and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://www.languageconsortium.org/). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************