Language Teaching Methods: Suggestopedia

Summary

This video script introduces three language teaching methods: Suggestopedia, the Silent Way, and the Communicative Approach, demonstrated through a lesson for intermediate ESL students themed around 'a house.' The instructor, Lisa Sparrow, uses music, relaxation, and dramatization to create a comfortable learning environment, aiming to overcome psychological barriers and enhance learning potential. The lesson includes reading, acting, and pronunciation practice, emphasizing the importance of a pleasant atmosphere and imaginative engagement for effective language acquisition.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The video series introduces three language teaching methods: Suggestopedia, the Silent Way, and the Communicative Approach.
• 🏡 The lessons are designed around the theme of a house, targeting intermediate level ESL students.
• 📚 Diane Larsson Freeman, the educator, encourages viewers to remain open to different teaching methods and consider how they might adapt them to their own contexts.
• 📘 The book 'Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching' by Oxford University Press provides more detailed information on these methods.
• 🎶 Suggestopedia uses music and relaxation techniques to help students overcome psychological barriers to learning.
• 📖 The first lesson demonstrates Suggestopedia, where the teacher reads a passage and acts it out, followed by a re-reading to reinforce memory.
• 🎵 Music is used to create a pleasant and comfortable learning environment, which is believed to facilitate learning.
• 👂 The teacher's reassuring tone and the use of suggestion aim to make learning the target language relaxing and enjoyable.
• 🎭 Dramatization and role-playing are used to activate the material and make learning engaging.
• 🏸 Games, such as the one with the ball, are used to create a playful atmosphere and indirectly suggest that learning can be fun.
• 📝 Dictation exercises are used to reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation, helping students practice and remember new words.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video series?

The main purpose of the video series is to demonstrate three language teaching methods: Suggestopedia, the Silent Way, and the Communicative Approach, specifically designed for intermediate level ESL students.

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker in the video is Diane Larsson Freeman, a teacher and educator at the School for International Training.

What is the theme chosen for the lessons in the video?

The theme chosen for the lessons is 'a house'.

What is the first teaching method demonstrated in the video?

The first teaching method demonstrated in the video is Suggestopedia.

What does Suggestopedia aim to overcome in language learning?

Suggestopedia aims to overcome psychological barriers to learning by helping students believe they can be successful, thus enhancing their learning potential.

How does the teacher in the video use music in the Suggestopedia lesson?

The teacher uses music to create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, which is conducive to learning and helps students to be more receptive to the material.

What is the role of the 'concert phase' in the Suggestopedia lesson?

The 'concert phase' involves the teacher acting out the reading with musical accompaniment, which helps to activate the learner's imagination and enhance learning.

What is the significance of the teacher's actions and the music in the learning process according to the script?

The teacher's actions and the music complement the linguistic message, creating a unity that enhances learning by engaging both the linguistic and non-linguistic aspects of communication.

What is the purpose of the game with the ball in the video?

The game with the ball is used to create a playful atmosphere, indirectly suggesting that learning can be fun and helping to reduce barriers to learning.

What is the homework assigned at the end of the video?

The homework assigned includes checking the dictation against the proper spelling and reading the provided sentences to practice pronunciation and intonation.

What is the importance of a pleasant and comfortable environment in language learning according to the video?

A pleasant and comfortable environment facilitates learning by making students feel more confident and relaxed, which in turn aids in the absorption and retention of the material.