- The language lab at Achva College aimed to improve English skills of teacher candidates through a supportive environment, with instructors acting as "personal trainers". - Students' English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills improved according to self-assessments, with areas like paragraph structure and computer skills improving the most. - Students cited the supportive atmosphere, instructor feedback and presentations, and focus on authentic language learning as most helpful in contributing to their progress.

1. Running a college Language Lab: Memoirs of two personal trainers ETAI International Conference, Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem – July 14 th , 2010 Dr. Melodie Rosenfeld & Mr. Melvyn Rach Achva College of Education

2. The Challenge at our college for EFL teacher candidates Need for language skill improvement (!) Many levels of English proficiency (!) Not all are strongly motivated (!) ------------------------------------------------------------ What and how to improve? Which materials? Which methods to develop skills & motivation?

3. Our Lab Population N=22 1 female native speaker 1 male 1 Arab female, aged 18 19 other females, ages 23 - 45

4. Room 216

6. The Language Lab websites www.melvyn.ik.org www.online.achva.ac.il/2009/courses/languagelab/index.htm

18. Examples of student work

21. What improved? “How much did you improve in the following areas?” N=13 Reading __________________ reading for pleasure 2.60 reading vocabulary 2.50 comprehension of texts in English 2.46 finding academic articles 1.80 Writing paragraph structure 4.00 presentation skills 3.69 sentence structure 3.40 importance of drafts 3.30 grammar in writing 3.30 vocabulary 3.00 spelling 3.00 ________________ proofreading 2.80 writing correct emails in English 2.30 oral reading 2.00 Listening ______________ listening to lectures in English 2.61 listening to others in English 2.60 listening to TV & radio in English 2.23 Speaking vocabulary while speaking 3.00 pronunciation 2.92 motivation to speak lots of English 2.92 grammar 2.89 oral presentations in front of audience 2.89 ________________ Other Skills computer skills 4.07 other study skills 3.30 _______________ Affective Improvements bringing work to lab 3.92 taking initiative 3.77 coming on time 3.38 using Lab time effectively 3.15 ______________

23. Skill Changes using computer to improve English 4.07 other study skills 3.30 more aware & critical of my English 3.30 general English improvement 3.15 __________ Affective Changes bringing work to lab 3.92 taking initiative 3.77 taking responsibility 3.46 using Lab time effectively 3.15 ____________ I worried about the level of my English as an EFL teacher 2.3 Lab reduced the worry 1.92 Other Changes I received help in areas I needed 3.77 Lab helped identified areas to improve 3.60 ______________

25. What contributed to making the Language Lab helpful to you? N=13 Affective Areas a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere 4.38 ____________ The Instructors the "personal trainer" role of the instructor 4.38 the instructors themselves 3.54 ____________ The Pedagogy (what the instructors did) weekly correction of your written paragraphs 4.23 instructors' presentations 4.00 pass/not pass 3.69 "speak only English" policy 3.62 personal help from instructors 3.54 help in identifying weaker areas 3.31 opportunity to bring work from other courses 3.17 Lab requirement to show improvement 3.15 other students' presentations of websites 3.08 ____________ opportunity to work with other students 2.69 keeping a vocabulary notebook 2.30 The Material Melvyn's website 3.00 ____________ other online links with EFL activities 2.85 EFL material such as Longman programs 1.92 the Lab's online site 1.85 Other just knowing that you'll need excellent English to be an EFL teacher 4.23

29. Reflection Example