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The publication of the Michel Thomas ground-breaking, all-audio language learning materials has been a publishing phenomenon. Sales of over one million units in just eight years and the universal acclaim his method has excited would indicate that there is a large body of people who want to know more about how and why his method works where so many others have failed.
The book will give a brief history of Michel's fascinating life and summarize how he became interested in teaching foreign languages, before going on to look at the experience of learning a foreign language in general and Michel's method of teaching in particular.
It examines the barriers to language learning in both the UK and the US, Michel's focus on the role and quality of the teacher rather than the learner, and Michel's core belief that with the right teaching anyone can learn another language quickly and easily.
The reader will be introduced to new trends in psychology and their relationship to the way Michel teaches foreign languages as well as examining conventional wisdoms.
There follows a detailed analysis of Michel's programs for foreign language teaching and the implications for schools, colleges and universities if they wish to adopt his methodology and at the same time meet the requirements of the public examinations both in the UK and the US.
List of contents
- Part 1: Setting the Scene
- : Introduction
- Chapter 1: Michel Thomas: A brief history
- Part 2: Researching Effective Schools, Teaching and Learning: What do we already know?
- Chapter 2: How Do We Find Out the Most Effective Ways of Teaching?
- Chapter 3: How Do Schools Make a Difference?
- Chapter 4: How Do Teachers Make a Difference?
- Chapter 5: How Do Children Learn?
- Part 3: Theory and Practice of Teaching Foreign Languages The Michel Thomas Way
- Chapter 6: A Starting Point for Teaching
- Chapter 7: Instructional Psychology
- Chapter 8: Instructional Principles
- Chapter 9: Deciding What to Teach
- Chapter 10: Teaching Concepts
- Chapter 11: Deciding How to Teach
- Chapter 12: Engaging and Assessing Students
- Part 4: The Implications Of Michel Thomas¿s Approach to Teaching Foreign Languages
- Chapter 13: Teaching Foreign Languages in Schools: Trends, Principles and Tensions
- Chapter 14: Foreign Languages: Teaching, Learning and Assessment
- Chapter 15: The Wider Applications of Teaching Foreign Languages Through Michel Thomas¿s Approach
- Chapter 16: Michel Thomas: Critical Reflections
- Chapter 17: Working Towards a Learning Revolution
About the author
Dr Jonathan Solity is a former associate professor in educational psychology. He is now an Honorary Research Fellow at University College London and Director of KRM, a psychological and educational research consultancy. He is a leading figure in instructional psychology, having published widely in the field and led the UK's most detailed and extensive school-based research programs into how best to teach reading, writing, spelling and math.
Summary
The publication of the Michel Thomas ground-breaking, all-audio language learning materials has been a publishing phenomenon. Sales of over one million units in just eight years and the universal acclaim his method has excited would indicate that there is a large body of people who want to know more about how and why his method works where so many others have failed.
The book will give a brief history of Michel's fascinating life and summarize how he became interested in teaching foreign languages, before going on to look at the experience of learning a foreign language in general and Michel's method of teaching in particular.
It examines the barriers to language learning in both the UK and the US, Michel's focus on the role and quality of the teacher rather than the learner, and Michel's core belief that with the right teaching anyone can learn another language quickly and easily.
The reader will be introduced to new trends in psychology and their relationship to the way Michel teaches foreign languages as well as examining conventional wisdoms.
There follows a detailed analysis of Michel's programs for foreign language teaching and the implications for schools, colleges and universities if they wish to adopt his methodology and at the same time meet the requirements of the public examinations both in the UK and the US.
Foreword
At last, the secrets of the phenomenal success of the Michel Thomas language courses are revealed!
