The traditional audio language lab typically has multiple listening stations. Each station has a headset, a microphone and some type of audio player. For example, after the introduction of cassette players, students could individually play a cassette at their stations. These labs also have a main station for the instructor. The main console has the same basic type of equipment. However, the audio equipment can broadcast to all of the students' listening stations at the same time. In addition, the instructor can speak to all students or individually listen and speak to students through the voice system.
In the era of the traditional audio language lab, teaching of foreign language focused on audio-lingual concepts. Structural linguistics, with its focus on aspects of grammar and sentence construction, prevailed. The idea was that a student could master a language by learning the building blocks of language and how they combine to form complete sentences.
The traditional language lab utilizes prerecorded study material. When the instructor plays a lesson, the students can repeat what the audio is saying for practice. The instructor can listen in and provide feedback. The audio language lab is also used for translation practice. The instructor can play a tape or read sentences or passages out loud through the voice system. Students can then provide a translation or answer questions based on the passage.
Modern language theory focuses more on communicative abilities. Practice exercises include scenario-based conversations that require the student to respond in the target language. This element is missing in the traditional audio language lab. Although an instructor could engage in scenario-based conversations on an individual basis, this isn't possible to do simultaneously on a class-wide basis with a traditional laboratory. In addition to that, educational technology is shifting to more modern computers for video and other multimedia capabilities. Multimedia systems also offer the added ability to include reading and writing into the practice exercises.
Although some traditional labs still exist, institutions are generally converting to multimedia language laboratories. For example, the University of Iowa's Language Media Center supplements its traditional audio language lab with videos and other computer-based learning activities.