Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010958480400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Digital language laboratory set up

Staff Reporter

— Photo: R.Ravindran

New facility: Rotary District Governor A.Subramanian (right) and Project contact Krishnan V.Chari look around the digital language laboratory inaugurated at the Dr.MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: A digital language laboratory set up by the Rotary Club of Meenambakkam was inaugurated at the Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women on Wednesday.

The lab, which has been set up under a matching grant, has 31 computer terminals and software worth Rs.2.5 lakh. It has both American and British English software . The software also prompts.

Rotary District Governor A. Subramanian said learning to speak a language became easier if one heard it being spoken correctly. Club president P. Sridhar said the club also planned to add French, German and Japanese software in the lab that has been set up at the cost of Rs.17 lakh.

Project contact Krishnan V. Chari said the club’s association began a couple of years ago when they gave books to the library. “Almost 80 per cent of the students are from poor backgrounds and most of them are going to be first generation graduates. We were impressed with the students and the management’s commitment.”

College Principal Usha Krishnan said the facility would enable students to improve English.