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WHAT IS IT?

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  Suggestopedia is a language teaching method developed by Bulgarian psychiatrist Georgi Lozanov in the 1970s. His approach is based on the idea that students can learn much faster and more effectively if psychological barriers that create tension and fear of making mistakes are removed. To achieve this, a relaxed environment is used, along with positive suggestion techniques, classical music (especially Baroque), and playful activities. According to Lozanov, the human mind has a vast learning capacity that is often underused due to stress and rigid traditional methods. Suggestopedia stimulates both the left hemisphere (logical) and the right hemisphere (emotional and creative), promoting more holistic and long-lasting learning. Key Elements of Suggestopedia: Use of relaxing music to aid memorization. Creation of a comfortable, pressure-free environment. Dramatic reading of content. Role-playing and dramatizations. Constant positive suggestion (messages that boost students’ self-es...
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THE METHOD

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  This method maintains that one way to quickly teach a foreign language is through Suggestopedia. The name comes from sugesto, which means “suggestion” in Spanish. In the words of Lozanov (1979), “suggestibility” is a component of the autonomous nature of intelligence: depending on the “suggestions” (or perceptions of each individual), the student is either stimulated or “unstimulated.” Suggestions perceived as negative raise the affective filter—that is, learning decreases due to inhibition on the part of the learner. On the other hand, if the opposite occurs and we manage to keep students in a positive mindset, fluent learning can be achieved. Furthermore, to enhance this process, Lozanov considered certain types of music to be beneficial for learning and for increasing suggestibility, and believed that exposure to specific melodies facilitated the learning process.
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EXAMPLE

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  It begins with identifying the concepts necessary for the students’ future success, such as recognizing verbs, nouns, or adjectives in a new language. After that, there is a brainstorming session where the teacher and learners discuss unique ways to express each concept using clear images or analogies. From there, the sessions flow smoothly as ideas are shared.
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Suggestopedic Class Example: Basic Concepts in English (“Greetings and Introductions”)

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Objective: Students will recognize and use basic greetings and introductions in English (Hello, How are you?, My name is…, Nice to meet you). Duration: Approximately 45 minutes. 1. Classroom Preparation • The classroom is decorated with colorful posters showing greetings and friendly expressions. • Soft Baroque music is playing in the background (e.g., Bach or Vivaldi). • Chairs are arranged in a semicircle to create a relaxed environment. 2. Presentation Phase (10 minutes) • The teacher greets students in a theatrical and very friendly manner: “Hello! How are you today? My name is Mr. Alex. What is your name?” • Gestures, facial expressions, and a cheerful tone are used. • Then, the teacher hands out a simple “script” (a short dialogue) featuring phrases such as: • Hello! • How are you? • I’m fine, thank you. • My name is Ana. • Nice to meet you! (The script includes side-by-side translations to make students feel more confident.) 3. Concert Phase (15 min...
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