Background

Suggestopedia is a method developed by Georgi

Lozanov.
It is a specific set of learning
recommendations derived from suggestology.
Lozanov introduced the idea that students
naturally set up psychological barriers to
learning (Motsok n.d.)
Suggestopedia seeks to use those influences
and redirect them in order to optimize learning

Suggestopedia is linked to yoga and
Soviet psychology.
Decoration, furniture, arrangement
of the classroom, the use of music,
and the authoritative behavior of the
teacher are remarkable
characteristics of this method.

AWAKE
ASLEEP AWARE
ALERT
ATTENTIVE
AROUSED
ANXIOUS
AGONIZED
ATTENTION AND MEMORY STUDIES
Most learning takes place in a relaxed but
focused state
Centrality of music and musical
rhythm to learning are important
features in suggestopedia
Music is used to relax learners as
well as to structure, pace, and
punctuate the presentation of
linguistic material


Theory of Language
Lozanov does not articulate a theory
of language.
Lexis is central
Lexical translation rather than
contextualization is stressed
Home study of recordings of whole
meaninful texts is also recommended

The texts should have emotional
content
Theory of Learning
Suggestion is at the heart of
suggestopedia.
Suggestopedia and hypnosis are distinct
concepts.
Desuggestion: Unloading the memory banks
(reserves) of unwanted or blocking
memories
Suggestion: Loading the memory banks
with desired and facilitating memories
Components through which
Dessugestion-Suggestion
Operate
Authority
Infantilization
Double-Planedness
Intonation, Rhythm, and Concert
Pseudo-passiveness
Authority
People remember best and are most
influenced by information coming
from an authoritative source.
Self-confidence, personal distance,
acting ability, and high positive
attitude give an authoritative air to
the teacher

Infantilization
The learner participates in role-
playing, games, songs, or gymnastic
activities to recover self-confidence,
spontaneity, and receptivity.

Double-Planedness
Students learn from the effect of
direct instruction and from the
environment in which the instruction
takes place


Intonation, Rhythm, and
Concert Pseudo-passiveness
Changing the tone and rhythm of
presented material helps to avoid
boredom, to dramatize, emotionalize,
and contextualize linguistic material.
Pseudo-passiveness is the state
optimal for learning.
The type of music is determinant for
learning success.
The rate of presentation of material
to be learned within the rhythmic
pattern is keyed to the rhythm
Objectives
Suggestopedia seeks to deliver
advanced conversational proficiency
quickly.
It seeks students to master lists of
vocabulary pairs
Memorization of vocabulary is an
important goal in suggestopedia
The Syllabus
Suggestopedia courses last 30 days
and have 10 units of study.
The central focus of each unit is a
dialogue consisting of 1200 words
with accompanying vocabulary list and
grammatical commentary
Unit studies are organized around 3
days.
Day 1: Discussion of the general
content of the unit dialogue.
Day 2 and 3 are spent in primary and
secondary elaboration of the text

Students are explained the attitude
they should have
Students are established in a
positive, relaxed, and confident state
for learning.
Students are given a new name and a
new biography


Types of Learning and
Teaching Activities
Imitation
Question and Answer
Role play
Listening activities

Those activities are usually presented
in the pre-session phase
Learner Roles
Students expected to be commited
to the class and its activities
They should immerse themselves in
the procedures of the method.
Learners are expected to tolerate
and encourage their own
infantilization process
Teacher Roles
Teachers are expected to create
situations in which the learner is
most suggestible and then to present
linguistic material in a way most likely
to encourage positive reception and
retention by the learner
Show confidence in the method
Show fastidious conduct in manners and
dress
Organize properly and strictly observe the
initial stages of the teaching process.
Maintain a solemn attitude towards the
session

Role of Instructional
Materials
Direct support materials: Text and
tape
Indirect support materials:
Classroom fixtures and music
Learning environment (appearance of
the classroom, furniture, and the
music) is essential in this method.
Procedure
1) Oral Review Section: Material previously
learned is used as the basis for discussion,
and the discussion develops like seminar.
This session includes micro-studies and
macro-studies.
Microstudies: Grammar, vocabulary, and
precise questions and answers are
emphasized


Macrostudies: Consisting of role playing
and innovative language constructions
2) Presentation and discussion of the new
material: It consists of observing a new
dialogue and its native language translation
and discussing various issues of grammar,
content, or vocabulary
3) Seance or concert session: With
students sitting in specially constructed
chairs arranged in a circle, the teacher
conducts yoga breathing and meditation
exercises as the new material is
introduced and rehearsed using dialogues.
Students follow along with a written
version of the new material, as they listen
to Baroque music. Danesi (2003)
Conclusions
Suggestopedia method has received both positive
and critical responses.
The air of science is what gives suggestopedia its
authority in the eyes of students and prepares
them to expect success.
Determining which current ritual placebo system
carries most authority with students is one of the
tasks of the suggestopedic leader
Our task is to take the suggestopedic techniques
that appear effective and that harmonize with
other second language teaching techniques