Suggestopedic Training Programme and Requirements

Time table for the 2024 courses

  • Course 1: Monday, February 5th to Friday, February 16th (Block 1+2) (Block 3 on agreement)
  • Course 2: Monday, April 15th to Friday, April 26th (Block 1+2) (Block 3 on agreement)
  • Course 3: Monday, June 24th to Friday, July 5th (Block 1+2) (Block 3 on agreement)
  • Course 4: Monday, October 7th  to Friday, October 18th (Block 1+2) (Block 3 on agreement)

Where?

Will be held in Sweden at Restad Gård

What does the daily course schedule look like?

This first part of teacher training is divided into two blocks (The times are preliminary and can be changed on agreement).

    • First block (Monday to Friday)

Breakfast at the hotel (from 07.00)
We start every morning at 08.45.
Lunchbreak 11.45 – 12.45
Afternoons 13.00 – 16.00
In the mornings you will experience the theory of Suggestology in a suggestopedic way.
For three afternoons, you will participate as an observer in a beginner’s group in Swedish. In the other two afternoons you will get the chance to implement the scientific knowledge into the practical methodology. For example, you will develop and test your own fictional teacher identity in practice, in one of the classes. (In English)

    • Second block (Monday to Friday)

We work every day from 09.00 – 16.00
Lunchbreak 12.00 – 13.00
This will be a week filled with workshops.
We will add more theory around all the elements included in the method and you will get the chance to practice using these elements. We will analyse the suggestopedic textbooks. You will also receive tools to develop activations yourself based on these textbooks; activities for suggestopedic elaboration that you can use in your own classroom later. Of course, there will also be voice training and practice in delivering the two concert readings of the suggestopedic session.

    • Third block

The third block is built on your own experiences working with Suggestopedia.
The third block takes place digitally from home and you must show that you understand how the
suggestopedic method works in practice – based on Suggestology. This is done by videotaping yourself during a lesson, as well as by answering a number of questions.
The teacher trainer acts as a mentor and will be able to tutor you on five occasions. These occasions will also be used to get deeper into the theory. You will be able to arrange the time for each consultation with your teacher trainer.

Who will be teaching?

Christina Johnstone will be the teacher.
She has been working with original suggestopedia in her classes since 2014. She is also a designer of suggestopedic syllabi (courses for illiterate and low educated learners, courses in subjects other than language) as well as a developer of suggestopedic resources, i. e. textbooks, didactic games etc. She has been a teacher trainer since 2018. Christina is also a member of the LITTA board.

How do I register for a course in suggestopedia?

Contact Stavriana Soubassi, the LITTA secretary,
Stavrianas email is: [email protected]
or Christina Johnstone, the teacher herself: [email protected]

How do I know that I have been admitted to the course?

You will receive confirmation from Christina Johnstone that you have been accepted to the course.
At the same time, you will get the invoice, either by post or by email – whatever you prefer.

Where is the closest airport?

The closest airport is Gothenburg.

How do I get from the airport to Restad Gård?

You take the airport bus to Gothenburg Central Station. From there you take the train to Öxnered. Last station Vänersborg)
Alternative one: Give Christina your arrival time and she will pick you up in Öxnered.
Alternative two: Change to the shuttlebus to Vänersborg Central station. At the station change to bus 5, which bring you to Restad Gard (Last Station).

Where can I find accommodation?

The easiest and most comfortable option is to stay at Hotel Hehrne.

Do I get a Certificate?

Certificates are obtained after completed training, approved completion of a suggestopedic lesson and a passed exam.
The certificate is valid for two years, and then a new presentation of a suggestopedic lesson is carried out digitally, with associated feedback and support. After this, you have the opportunity to become part of the Suggestopedia network.

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. The effectiveness as well as the benefits of the genuine method have been confirmed by the most prestigious international commissions and scientists.

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. Teaching is not the mastery of just a bunch of techniques but is about emotional development and the need to teach empathetic skills. 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.

Dr. G. Lozanov