Language Lab Review - DELL Software

Hello Readers!

Here is a post about Computer-Assisted Language Learning - CALL. It contains automated language computer software. This software is designed in such a way that language learners can access the language components from various features like Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, Reading, Speaking, Listening, etc. With the help of a computer and a language learning software installed, a learner can learn a language at their own pace and convenience.

At the Department of English, MK Bhavnagar University, a language learning software called Globarena is installed on a computer, and students are asked to review the software. At the department, there was a full-fledged language laboratory functioning, where the main server computer was linked to all other desktops, and together students used to experience the process of CALL.

The shocking COVID-19 pandemic hit in the second decade of the 21st century, and we witnessed a sudden change in the teaching and learning process. Though mankind has surpassed the first and second waves of the pandemic and is recovering from the same, one has to be careful and maintain social distancing, follow SOP, and government guidelines.

Well, the show must go on, and that's why for the language review, we had to visit the department and gain the first-hand experience on our own. Here are some of the glimpses of the 'retro' language learning laboratory software.

The home screen of the student console, where several language learning components are given

Teacher Console, from which the teacher can monitor the learners' activities and progress

By clicking on each of them, a separate interface opens with new graphics and content.

The full setup of the server desktop with a 2.1 sound system for audio output and microphones for input

The demonstration of the software by Dr. Dilip Barad via YouTube

Click Here

for the detailed demonstration

and know-hows of the language lab software.

* Fundamental Language Skills

The basics of fundamental language skills are designed to make learners familiar with the language, whether they are first-language learners or second-language learners.

* Communication Skills

* Listening Skills

Based on the audio clip, one has to answer the questions

* Conversations/Speaking Skills

The given topics in the Table of Contents (ToC)

The conversation is displayed on the screen, and one has to do a role play of any character. One has to read and speak aloud the lines given for the role and record one's voice. By clicking on the record button, we can start speaking, and at the end of the line, one has to stop the recording. Then the full audio conversation can be listened.

The video file size exceeds the given limits by Blogger.com

putting the drive video link below. Please click and visit

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12RV7WSLiNyK8WPzmonDWihiJvYF-vDvJ/view?usp=sharing

 

* Give five advantages of language learning software with reference to your review and experience:

1. Self-paced learning

2. Interactive

3. Learner Centric

4. Provides individual teaching

5. Self-learning

* Give five disadvantages of language learning software with reference to your review and experience

1. Fixed and static in place

2. Learner distraction is possible

3. Lack of physical surveillance

4. Technical glitches

5. Old version of software

* List at least five things (related to language skills) you think can be learnt from this language lab program

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Vocabulary building, 

* Give five new words (vocabulary or pronunciation) you learnt while reviewing the software:

Vestibule, rampant, palindrome, hatch, discriminations (earlier I used to type 'e' in the beginning)

* How would you like to rate Language-Lab-In-Mobile as an App?

I would give 3 points out of 5 to the app.

The overall learning experience was very engrossing and insightful. I also learnt how to work with old versions of language learning software and progress ahead.

Thank You!

International Yoga Day - June 2021

Welcome Readers,

Namaste !

In 2014, United Nations approved this day to be observed as International Day of Yoga world wide. Here is a detailed post about Yog.

I've been fond of Yog and Meditation right from my childhood. I, humbly consider myself as a practitioner. Here's a gist of my understanding from the years' practice.

Yog which means connection, the basis of the word(धातु) is युज्. Connection can only be made when there are two entities. Here, body(साधन) and mind (मन) are two entities and Yog is what unites them. According to Patanjal Yog Sutra by the sage Patanjali, Yog is a way of meeting the supreme light and that is परमात्मा. Many practitioners claim the divine and celestial experiences from Yog and meditation.

Well, Yog has eight limbs which is known as अष्टाङ्ग. These are as further. यम, नियम, आसन, प्राणायाम, प्रत्याहार, धारणा, ध्यान, and समाधि. A diligent Yogi practices these extremely difficult limbs and strives for the ultimate salvation which is मोक्ष. 

Too heavy to read and difficult to understand, isn't it? We, the human beings are bound to live a life which is followed by society at large. Or let's say it's tough to get liberty to perform this practice. What other miseries one can afford? Okay, let me try to simplify.

- - -

Yog, just like mathematics, is a matter of practice,(अभ्यास). Our body needs cleansing, not only outwardly, but also inwardly. We take bath, brush teeth, clear throat, cut nails . . . These are outward cleansing. But body also needs internal cleansing. Ayurved suggests numerous methods of cleansing. रक्तशुद्धि (blood cleansing) and नाड़ी शुद्धि (vein cleansing), पंचकर्म (five steps for cleansing) are some of them. Of course, they do carry various benefits. 

These steps are beneficial if performed before doing Yog, in the early morning. These processes are being conducted at various health centers and ayurvedic hospitals.

Our body is made up of seven dhaatu, धातु, the key elements that form a human body. They are as further. रस, (rasa) रक्त, (blood) मांस, (muscles) अस्थि (bones), मज्जा (neuron system), मेद (fats, proteins...), and वीर्य (adrenaline glands). All the seven elements should be in a fine balance in order to live a healthy life. Yog helps us doing so.

By performing asanas with perfect in breathing we can cultivate flexibility in actions and in thoughts. Relaxing asanas like शवासन, सुखासन, मकरासन, are for giving rest not only to body but to mind as well.

पद्मासन and ध्यान (meditation), is for stability in action and purification in thoughts. Our daily life is affected by many positive and negative thoughts of ours and of others. We perform our duties, responsibilities by our conscience. But this conscience needs to be focused at any cost. Meditation makes us vigilant about our own thoughts, language and action. If we meditate in the early morning, we become master of our own actions and decisions we make during the entire day. If we meditate at night, we come to know about our dealings with people, thoughts we have spread, feedbacks we have received. This helps us to improve ourselves from the flaws and helps us next day. The moment we start meditating, our ego deflates. We get the best chance to reflect upon our behavior. Whenever done, meditation purifies thoughts and actions.

Human relations are based on giving and taking. People we meet in our life are either givers or takers. According to given time and circumstances, we as an individual keep on shifting our positions from givers to takers and vice versa. This shifting is a never ending bond which is called as ऋणानुबंध. Human being is never free from this chain.

Here are some photos of me performing some Asanas while attending an online/virtual Yog day celebration 2021. It was organized by Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English, MK Bhavnagar University.

The Banners at the English Department

Here's a glimpse from an online session of Yog Day 2021. Thanks to Daya Vaghani for sharing the screenshots on Facebook.

Me performing Yog at home.

As described in Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, these are the virtues an individual can cultivate.

अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।

दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ।।16.1।।

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।

दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ।।16.2।।

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता ।

भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ।।16.3।।

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सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामया,

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुख भागभवेत।

ऊँ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Yes, this ocean of Yog is very vast and deep to dip but we can apply at least some portion and witness the most positive changes. After all, Yoga is the most ancient practice of well-being you know...!

Thanks a lot for staying tuned !

Shiva Baby | Film and Culture | Openness of Thought

Welcome Readers!

It was a YouTube advertisement of an online film screening platform and a film trailer was shown. It seemed as casual as other film trailers hit the screen but what made me curious about it was the title.

Click Here to watch the trailer.

Yes. Shiva Baby. Indeed an eye-sparkling title for Indian audience. Digging deeper got me to the real fact about the real context of the word shiva. The film has no connection with Hindu god Shiva but it has a completely different perspective. Well, this makes me question that are we open to multiple cultures? How much do we know about other religions and their rituals and myths around them? These are not the questions of national interest or whose-who-GK kind but they too have their places.

Cultural Openness

The world has become a global village and in the time of fast progression and development, one needs to be open and sporty about all the cultures and religions around the world.

Meaning and the Context

Shiva is a Hindu god and the supreme strength in all respects among the Trimurti - Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh. But shiva is also a name of ritual of lamentation, mourning in Judaism. Isn't it beautiful that how two cultures share similarities and yet they are celebrated in different contexts? If one looks with wider view point, many stories of gods are much similar.

Here's a paragraph on this ritual. According to Wikipedia entry,

Shiva (Hebrew: שִׁבְעָה‎, literally "seven") is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives. The ritual is referred to as "sitting shiva" in English. The shiva period lasts for seven days following the burial. Following the initial period of despair and lamentation immediately after the death, shiva embraces a time when individuals discuss their loss and accept the comfort of others.[1]

Its observance is a requirement for the parents, siblings, spouses, and children of the person who has died. It is not a requirement for an individual who was less than thirty days old at the time of death.[2] At the funeral, mourners wear an outer garment that is torn before the procession in a ritual known as keriah. In some traditions, mourners wear a black ribbon that is cut in place of an everyday garment.[3][4] The torn article is worn throughout the entirety of shiva. Typically, the seven days begin immediately after the deceased has been buried. Following burial, mourners[5] assume the halakhic status of avel (Hebrew: אבל, "mourner"). It is necessary for the burial spot to be entirely covered with earth in order for shiva to commence. This state lasts for the entire duration of shiva.

During the period of shiva, mourners remain at home. Friends and family visit those in mourning in order to give their condolences and provide comfort. The process, dating back to biblical times, formalizes the natural way an individual confronts and overcomes grief. Shiva allows for the individual to express their sorrow, discuss the loss of a loved one, and slowly re-enter society.[6]

A detailed, well-documented guide of how this ritual is conducted and followed in Judaist culture.

http://images.shulcloud.com/618/uploads/PDFs/mourning5.pdf

Now we have two contextual meanings of Shiva. Let's be open, and think global.

Happy Perspectives !!!