Learning English As a Second Language & Role of Digital Language Lab

Abstract

Today’s world considers English as a global language because there has never been a language so widely
spread or spoken by so many people as English. The purpose to write this paper is to provide an overview of
technology-related changes that are taking place in the engineering institutes of India in learning and teaching English language
and to examine how far these changes are actually able to make a difference at the ground level. The advancements in Science and
Technology and their use of new terminology have been showing an immediate impact on the language, adding tens of thousands of
words to the English dictionary. As these innovations come down from the English-speaking countries, those who wish to update their
knowledge and learn about new inventions need to learn English well. In India, English language teaching mainly depends upon the
chalk and talk method of teaching. But in recent times the major institutes have begun to realize that language learning should take
place in a realistic and practical manner only to achieve language proficiency and fluency. The importance of the English language
in educational field is clear from the fact that many countries have made English as an official language. Consequently, the English
language teaching (ELT) has become one of the major growth industries around the world in the recent years. The objective of this
paper is to present significance of Digital English Language lab in engineering and technology institutes in India. The quality of the
language proficiency will enhance when students learn it from the multimedia, digital and computerized Language Lab.