Suggestopedia

→ It is a method developed by Georgi Lozanov. Bulgarian scientist, neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist and educator.

→ It was invented for foreign language learners to make learning easier and motivated in a shorter period. 

→ Lozanov realised that there are some unconscious stimulus (facial gestures, intonation, movements, etc.) when we produce language that affect in learning of foreign language.

“Suggestopedia relies on success-

that’s what gives the joy”

Georgi Lozanov

*Also Lozanov refer to “Desuggestopedia” consisted in desuggest the expectation that Learning is difficult and slow.

Key Elements (tips)

• Learning environment → Classroom should be comfortable and attractive to learners with posters or pictures (can be made for themselves) about language or material to be learnt. Position of desks.

If the external place is comfortable,

the internal place (feelings) would be in the same way.

• MUSIC → Helps with reading ability and vocabulary because induces a relaxed state (relax to get concentration). E.g. Put music while learners are reading a text *The key is find the kind of music.

            A Suggestopedic Course:

A course of four weeks long for six hours per day for twelve students with one teacher.

• Presentation → Students are helped by teacher with feelings about their learning is going to be funny and easy.
• Active Concert → Active presentation of the material. E.g. Teacher read a piece of text dramatically (with intonations, variety of voices, etc.) accompanied with classical music.
• Passive Review → The students listen a some Baroque music (gives optimum state to learn) with the text being read very quickly in the background.
• Elaboration → it is focused in practice activities which are familiar. E.g. songs, games, dialogues, etc.

TEACHER → Should be seen as a figure has confidence, someone the students can trust      and respect.

                  → Set up the atmosphere to empower students to express themselves freely and take responsibility about their own learning.

Criticism → The method focus in reading and vocabulary but forget about others abilities of learning language, comprehension, interaction, etc. It has good methods but put aside a lot of things of how produce and think in a foreign language.

Is it appropriate for kids?

Some of the tips can be appropriate in all ages because explain in general how the teacher can face his/her learners in a good mood, but others tips are not appropriate because need a level of concentration and some abilities that are difficult for young children because are not development yet. E.g. Suggestopedic Course.

           

It can be used?

The most of the keys can be used in an appropriate environment. If the teacher follow the tips about how should be with his/her learners, if the place of learning is adequate, with attractive walls and comfortable desks or  if children don’t get confused with classical music. But it can’t ignore that some of the subjects of the method sometimes can be miss and the method will not complete.

Final Questions

This method or some of its characteristics, is it put in practice for teachers in your college/school/university? Why should be put in practice? Why should be not? If this method says teacher should suggest learning is good… Why there are teachers until have a bad suggest about learning?