The idea is prevalent that the presence of the language laboratory leads to better instruction. This is because the language lab is felt to further self-instruction and intensive learning. In determining the validity of this statement, various elements need to be taken into consideration, including student motivation and level, availability and convenience of the lab, the language teacher, and the type of linguistic activity possible in the language lab. In the final analysis, the test of the usefulness of the language lab is the change it has brought about in traditional pedagogy. (AM)