As its name suggests, the Suggestopedia foreign language teaching method is all about harnessing the powers of positive suggestion. The methodology believes that a calm, tranquil environment creates a calm, tranquil mind, i.e., one ripe for learning a new language. It aims to give each student’s subconscious a nudge towards a determined outcome – language acquisition. Though its intended effect is beneficial, critics claim that the subliminal influence techniques are lacking pedagogically and are more akin to a hypnotist’s, “You are getting very sleepy” routine or a “Buy Coca-Cola” commercial than real education.
Developed in the ’70s by Bulgarian psychiatrist Georgi Lozanov, Suggestopedia emerged as a branch of the humanistic language education style that broke from more rigid traditions and favored a student-centered approach. Suggestopedia puts students first by way of a carefully crafted classroom layout that reduces stress and maximizes comfort, both physically and mentally.
Staples for a Suggestopedia learning environment are pleasant classroom décor, dim lighting, and a variety of comfortable seating arrangements, such as bean bag chairs or comfortable rugs on the floor. Nature motifs are common decorations, and these visual and sensory comforts are complemented by the soothingly intricate sounds of Baroque music.
The philosophy behind this relatively luxurious classroom is based on the concept of overcoming the affective filter, a mental impediment to language learning. The affective filter encompasses a range of stressors that vary from physical discomfort to anxiety to being intimidated by the teacher, and it is believed that when these factors are present, they essentially block students from learning adequately. Reducing the filter, as Suggestopedia strives to do both mentally and physically, would therefore maximize student potential.
Typical Lesson
11th grade English class for native French speakers
- Passive Phase
Students lounge comfortably in their preferred seating arrangement, with the soft sounds of Bach or Vivaldi playing in the background. The teacher presents the topic of the day – Travel – and students converse with one another about trips they’ve taken, then engage in a class discussion and share with the teacher.
- Active Phase
The teacher reads a text about an airport misadventure in dramatic voices, as if performing a play involving a frantic family. The goal is to maintain student attention. Vocabulary words such as “luggage,” “destination,” and “layover” are woven throughout the dialogue.
- Elaboration Phase
Livelier music is played and students break into groups. Students now prepare their own dramatizations to present to the class. The teacher moves from group to group to answer any questions. Students are encouraged to speak in English during this preparation stage. As each group presents its dramatization, the students relax and recline while enjoying the show.
- Visualization Wrap-Up
Students lie down on the soft rugs and close their eyes. The teacher asks them to picture themselves on their dream vacation, perhaps lying on a beautiful tropical beach or skiing down a magnificent mountain slope. The teacher incorporates vocabulary where possible, always speaking in a soothing and relaxed tone. “Where are you right now?” “What do you smell?” “Do you hear the call of shore birds?” “Do you hear the snow swishing under your skis as you cut through the powder?”
Role of the Teacher
One of the teacher’s biggest responsibilities is crafting the perfect learning environment, one that evokes a sense of mental calm and reduces the affective filter. The students need to feel safe to express themselves. As this is a student-centered approach, the teacher must always encourage autonomy and understand his or her background supporting role. The teacher must assume an amiable, yet respected role, not unlike a therapist. At the same time, the teacher must be bold when reading or performing, and always encourage and motivate students.
Positives
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- The friendly and inviting classroom environment creates a low-stress atmosphere for learning.
- True learning acquisition can occur through enjoyable activities rather than forced study and lecture.
- Students tend to enjoy the activities and hold a favorable view of the class, which helps them build confidence in their language skills.
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Negatives
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- The method has long been criticized for the lack of scientific evidence and many of its claims, such as allowing students to learn “3 to 5x faster,” are often disputed.
- Suggestopedia is not well-suited for all ages and competency levels. Young children may not have the attention span to sit through the Passive Phase, while beginning language learners may sit in silence, but be bored because they understand very little.
- The limited focus on grammar and difficulties in assessment lead many school administrators to prefer other methods.
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Final Thoughts
While many modern educators view the methodology as lacking in structure, few would doubt the benefits of putting students at ease during class. The Suggestopedia method may be seen as a bit indulgent with its comfort levels, especially for teachers working with standard classrooms, but environmental attributes such as décor, ambiance, and even lighting can affect student engagement and enjoyment of foreign language learning. So while teachers may not wish to employ the full Suggestopedia methodology itself, parts of it certainly hold value, namely creating a comfortable classroom atmosphere, encouraging student autonomy, and working to reduce stress around learning.
