Suggestopedia

Suggestopedia is a language teaching method originated in the 1970s by Bulgarian psychologist Georgi Lozanov. The name combines the terms "suggestion" and "pedagogy", the main idea being that accelerated learning can take place when accompanied by de-suggestion of psychological barriers and positive suggestion. To this end lessons take place against a background of soothing music in an emotionally comforting environment, with the teacher actively planting and unplanting thoughts in and from the learners' minds.

Typical features of a Suggestopedia lesson:

• target language/mother tongue
• teacher-centred
• bright, cheerful classrooms with comfortable chairs
• soothing background music
• positive suggestion and negative "de-suggestion" by teacher
• new identities for learners with TL names and new occupations
• printed TL dialogues with MT translation, vocabulary and grammar notes
• reading of dialogues by teacher, rhythm and intonation matched to music
• reading of dialogues by learners just before sleeping and on rising (homework)
• classroom activities based on dialogues, including Q&A, games and song