IBB UNIVERSITY

.MA Students English Dep

SUGGESTOPEDIA
&
DESUGGESTOPEDIA
 "Develop a passion for
learning. If you do, you
will never cease to grow."
Anthony J. D'Ang
 Suggestopedia
Background(1979)
A method of language teaching
originated by the Bulgarian
psychiatrist-educator Georgi lozanov.

Suggestology: a science concerned with the

systematic study of the non-rational and non-
conscious influences that human beings are
constantly responding to; involving loading the
memory banks with desired and facilitating memories
Suggestopedia is now called Desuggestopedia to
reflect the importance placed on desuggesting
limitations on learning.
 Background(1979)
Georgi Lozanov, believes as does Silent Way's

Caleb Gattegno, that for a faster language learning

rate, students should overcome the barriers to
learning. Psychological barriers should be removed
It is an affective humanistic approach, an

approach in which there is respect for students

feelings.
 The main principles of Suggestopedia
1. In an atmosphere of play, the conscious
attention of the learner does not focus
on linguistic forms, but rather on using
the language.
2. Students can learn from what is present
in the environment. (Peripheral learning)
 The main principles of Suggestopedia
3) Fine art provides positive suggestions for
students.

4) Errors are corrected gently and indirectly.

5) The teacher should integrate indirect positive

suggestions into the learning situation.

6) Learning is a matter of attitude, not

aptitude.
Key Elements of De-
Suggestopedia

1. Rich sensory learning

environment

2. Positive expectation of success

3. Varied range of methods

 Language Theory
The suggestopedia doesnt have a theory of
language or any particular assumptions
regarding language.
Double- planedness (direct/indirect influences)
the learner learns not only from the effect of
direct
instruction but also from the environment in
which
the instruction takes place ; the musical
background,
the shape of the chairs, the personality of the
 Language Theory
Memorization of vocabulary pairs is emphasized:

a target language item and its native language

translation-suggests.

a view of language in which lexis is central and in

which lexical translation rather than

contextualization is stressed.
 Learning Theory
Suggestion is at the heart of the theory of learning

underlying Suggestopedia.
People use 5-10% of their mental capacity. In order to

make better use of our mental reserves, limitations

need to be desuggested. Students should eliminate
the feelings that they cannot be successful and thus,
to help them overcome the barriers to learning.
Psychological barriers should be removed.
Desuggestopedia: Desuggesting limitation on learning.
 Design
Objectives
To deliver advanced conversational proficiency

quickly by accelerating the process by which students

learn to use a foreign language for everyday

communication.

More of the students' mental powers must be tapped.

Students should master prodigious lists of vocabulary

pairs.
 Content Choice and Organization: The
Syllabus
A course lasts 30 days and consists of ten units of

study; classes are held four hours a day, six days a

week

Each unit is a dialogue about 1200 words or so, with

a vocabulary list and grammatical commentary.

The dialogues are graded by lexis and grammar.

 Learning and Teaching Activities &
Techniques
activities: imitation, question and answer and

role play, listening activities in pre-session phase

(on the first day of a new unit with three readings
where the students first look at and discuss a
new text with the teacher, then they lean back in
their chairs listening to the teacher read the text
in a certain way and finally the material is acted
out by the instructor in a dramatic manner over a
background of the special music)
 Learning and Teaching Activities &
Techniques
Unit study is organized around three days:

Day 1 ( pre-session phase): Half a day

The teacher discusses the content (not structure)
of the unit dialogue.
The learners receive the printed dialogue with a
native language translation.
The teacher answers the asked questions and read
the dialogue for the second and third times.
 Learning and Teaching Activities &
Techniques
Day 2 : Full Day . Primary Elaboration
Consists of imitation, question and answer and reading
of the dialogue. Dealing with the new 150 vocabs
presented in the unit.

Day 3 : Half a day. Secondary Elaboration

Encouraging new students to make new combinations
and productions based on the dialogues. A story or
essay paralleling the dialogue is also read. Student
engaged in conversation.
 Learning and Teaching Activities &
Techniques
In the middle of the course Ss are encouraged to
practice the TL in a setting where it may be used,
such as. Hotels or restaurants.
Each student performs and participates.
Ss construct a play built in the material of the
course.
Ss speak spontaneously.
Written tests given throughout the course are
reviewed with the Ss performance in the final day
of the course.
 Learners Roles
The mental state of the learners is critical to
success.
They must forgo mind-alerting substances
and other distractions and immerse
themselves in the procedures of the method.
The infantilization refers to the relation
between the student to the teacher as it is
between the parent to the child. The learners
are given activities and techniques designed
to help them regain self-confidence. Such
activities include role playing, games, songs
and gymnastic exercises.
 Learners Roles
Group of learners are ideally socially

homogenous, twelve in number, and divided

equally between men and women. learners sit

in a circle, which encourages face-to-face

exchange and activity participation.

 Teachers Role
The teacher is the authority in the
classroom.
The prime role of the teacher is to create
situations in which the learner is most
suggestible and then to present linguistic
material in away most likely to encourage
positive reception and retention by the
learner.
The teacher should integrate indirect
positive suggestions into the learning
situation
Several teacher behaviors:
 Teachers Role
Show absolute confidence in the method .

Display fastidious conduct in manners and dress. (overly

concern about tidiness & cleanliness)

Organize properly & strictly observe the initials stages of

the teaching process.

Maintain a solemn / serious attitude toward the session.

Give tests and response tactfully to poor papers (if any).

Stress global rather than analytical attitudes toward

material.
Maintain a modest enthusiasm.
 The Role of Instructional Materials
Direct Support Materials

Text and Tape-recorder. The textbook should

have emotional force, literary quality and

interesting characters. Language problems

should be introduced in a way that does not

worry or distract students from the content.

 The Role of Instructional Materials
o Indirect Support Materials

The learning environment plays such a central

role in Suggestopedia .

The environment comprises the classroom

fixtures and music.

 Procedures
Classroom set up:

Teachers try to create classroom

environment- bright and cheerful, decorated
with scenes (holidays, festival) from a
country of target language.

(dim lights, soft music, comfortable

armchairs, and
posters on the walls)
 Procedures
Peripheral learning
Peripheral learning- Ss perceive more in the
environment than we consciously attend.
e.g: putting poster containing grammatical
information of target language , Ss absorb the
necessary facts effortlessly. For example,
students can produce simple sentence by
using the posters or grammatical information
on the wall.
 Positive Suggestion:

The teacher helps the students to break down

the barriers to learning that they bring with
them. Teacher can do this through direct and
indirect means.
Direct Suggestion: consciousness

The teacher tells students they are going to be

successful to create self-confidence.
 Indirect Suggestion: subconsciousness

This is actually more powerful than the

direct one.
It is provided by music and comfortable
physical conditions of the classroom.
It was achieved through the dialogue.
Choose a new identity
The students choose a target

language name and a new

occupation. As the course continuous,
the students have an opportunity to
develop a whole biography about
their fictional selves.
 Role play
Students pretend temporarily they

are someone else and perform in the

target language.
 Concert Session
This is the one by which Suggestopedia is best
known.
First concert (active concert)

At the beginning of this session, all

conversation
stops for a minute or two, and the teacher
listens to the music in order to enter to the
Second concert (passive concert)
Between the first and the second part of the concert

, there are several minutes of solemn silence.

the students are asked to put their text books

aside. They simply listen as the teacher reads the

dialogue at the normal rate of speed. The teacher is
seated and reads with musical accompaniment. The
content governs the way the teacher reads the
dialogue, not the music.
:Class example
First class:
The teacher greets and explains what she/he

is going to do in native language with

enthusiasm.
The teacher listens to the music that is

recorded in the r tape-recorder.

Teacher reads a dialogue in intonation with the

music.
The students put dawn their textbooks.
The teacher reads the dialogue in a normal rate
and the students listen to her/him.

The students read the dialogue in particular

manners (sad, angry, cheerful way).

The students get in a circle. The teacher throws

a ball to one student and she/he asks a
question. Then this student has to throw the
ball to another student and asks another
question.
The class is finished.
The students do not have any homework.
 Advantages
Facilitating learning environment.

Thinking highly of students feeling.

The emphasis of interaction.

The treatment to students mistakes.

 Disadvantages
Lack of flexibility: it is indeed lack of

flexibility to some students who are

difficult to learn spontaneously, and cause

indolence / slow on their learning.

 Conclusion
Learning will be facilitated in relaxed and

comfortable environment.
Learning should be as enjoyable as possible.

Lazonav makes no bones about the fact that

suggestupedia is introduced to students in

the context of a suggestive desuggestive
ritual placebo-system.