The Michel Thomas approach to learn a language.
I am still in the process of re-learning my German!
Previously I blogged about reading GermanHeit everyday. Now, when I am in the car going to school or going home, I listen to Michel Thomas CDs. It is a fairly intensive course based on a suite of 10 to 12 lessons at a time with lots of repetition, which suits me fine especially when it comes to get used to the way the German build their sentences!
The method is interesting in that it is based on understanding patterns in a language, how sentences are built and on its links with English. I am French but fluent in English and I can really relate to the countless similarities between German and English. Instead of having to learn long lists of words and phrases, it focuses on understanding and forming your own sentences which gives you confidence to speak. Michel Thomas is also a positive teacher who encourages you to think things trough.
I came across Michel Thomas whilst doing the creativity CPD course back in November. His method was tried by a comprehensive school as a pilot project to stimulate and and engage students. At the end, it had a significant impact on a top set year 9 (13-14 years old) and a middle set year 8 (12-13 years old) learning Spanish. Teachers at that school noticed that "pupils came to language lessons showing levels of excitement not previously observed before ... One teacher quoted the example of catching a pupil with a bar of chocolate, telling him "no es possible comerlo ahora". The pupil nodded that he understood that comment and promptly replied with "Lo siento pero tengo hambre"
Now I have never experienced that level of spontaneity with my pupils! so this is an approach I am willing to try next year.
You can read the full Michel Thomas report from Association for Language Learning here:
Michel.thomas.approach
And you? have you tried a similar approach in your lessons?
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