In our endless quest to either build or find the perfect language learning solution, many paths have sent us toward a Dr. Georgi Lozanov, developer of the system “Suggestopedia”, also called “Accelerated Learning”.

Dr. Lozanov, a Bulgarian Psychologist developed Suggestopedia back in the mid 1960s’s stating:

Suggestopedia (in its new desuggestive development as well) is a science for developing different non-manipulative and non-hypnotic methods for teaching/learning of foreign languages and other subjects for every age-group on the level of reserve (potential, unused) capacities of the brain/mind. That means: at least three to five times faster, easier and deeper learning, inner freedom, increasing the motivation for learning, joyful learning and psycho-physiological well-being. 

There is no question of the impact this method had on language learning in the 60’s and 70s’s. We have talked with students who have been through the Accelerated Learning system in the 80’s, and they swear that today, nothing exceeds it.
 
However, the methods are heavily, well, exclusively teacher focused. In fact, Dr. Lozanov spent all of his time teaching teachers. So the effectiveness of this type of training system boiled down to the quality of the teacher. Here is what Dr. Lozanov says on the subject:

 There is no other method or system that operates on this level. That is why working with this method requires the teacher to be properly trained. There is a lot of information in the authentic publications of Dr Lozanov but unfortunately this is not enough for a teacher to be trained. The whole training process is a specific form of art which cannot be mastered only by reading. It is as if a person who has not studied music was giving a professional concert only by a published description of the performance. Teaching is not  the mastery just a bunch of techniques but it is about emotional development and the need to teach empathetic skills. Do not rely on advertisements that are using the name of Dr Lozanov and are done by people who cannot show an authentic certificate. The teacher needs individual training and adaptation to the method in its dynamics if she/he wants to be a really good and creative teacher.

In todays world demand for fast learning and the DIY (Do It Yourself) mentality is the norm. Most adult language learners, or students who don’t have time to sit in class several hours each day and are trying to learn a foreign language online want a new innovative approach to language learning that doesn’t rely so heavily on the competency of the teacher and allows them to study on their own time.
 
While Dr. Lozanov’s techniques and methodologies were a breakthrough in the 60’s and 70’s, we find it difficult to find ways of bringing the success of his system into the era of the internet.
 
If you are a language teacher and want to improve, we highly recommend that you read Dr. Lozanov’s Foreign Language Teachers Suggestopedic Manual.