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Using digital audio in the languages classroom
Organisational issues
Getting started
Audio resources can be created by recording directly to a computer. A microphone and a sound card are all that is needed. Recording directly to a computer may be enhanced if a USB microphone is used. They plug directly into a USB port and, it is felt, enable clearer recording.
Ideally, recordings should be made in a quiet room, away from traffic noise or busy corridors. If possible, switch air conditioning or fans down.
File formats
- Some of the more common sound file formats are midi, MP3, and wav.
- Midi files are for synthesiser music and .wav files are for sound effects or speech recordings. MP3 files are much smaller than wav.
Recording and editing
Windows Sound Recorder, which is a standard feature of Windows machines, can be used to record and perform simple editing. This is a quick way of recording directly into a worksheet or presentation.
To open Sound Recorder go to Start >All Programs >Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder.
For a quick guide to using Sound Recorder go to the Resources page for digital audio.
For more ambitious recording and editing Audacity, a free downloadable audio editor, can be used to create and save files in either wav or mp3 format. This is a well-established editor which is ideal for language work. It has a Windows interface and is quick and easy to learn. Files can be saved in mp3 format.
Storage
Remember that audio files can occupy a lot of storage space and if many students access them simultaneously it could prove problematic. For this reason, it is often best to work in mp3 format.
Copyright
Copyright law is complex and care must be taken that it is not infringed. Students are often tempted to mix voice recording with commercial recordings in order to enhance their work. Strict rules apply in this regard and students must be made aware of the restrictions that the law imposes.
An alternative approach for creating musical sound tracks is to seek cooperation from a member of the Music department or to use a product like Garageband to create musical tracks. Garageband is a feature of Apple Mac computers.
