Several visitors to the site have commented that I haven't used or reviewed Michel Thomas courses. I have in recent months worked through Michel Thomas Foundation Spanish, Advanced Spanish and a little of the Language Builder course.
I will include a full review of these courses and the Michel Thomas method in general in the upcoming months.
I also mentioned in my last post that I was currently working my way (slowly) through Michel Thomas Foundation Dutch. This is a better test of the course because I am a beginner in Dutch. I have been studing Spanish in small doses for a few years, so Spanish is not the best test of the methods effects for me. I will review the Dutch course as well when I am finished.
Showing posts with label michel thomas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michel thomas. Show all posts
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Michel Thomas Update
I talked about the Michel Thomas method a few weeks ago. Since then I have done some more research on his method.
Michel Thomas himself recorded courses for French, Spanish, Italian and German. For each of these languages there is an 8 cd Foundation course, a 5 cd advanced course and a 2 cd language builder course. I believe there is also a vocabulary course as well.
Since Michel Thomas has died, there have been several more languages added. Using his technique, Foundation and Advanced courses for Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Russian were released, and vocabulary courses are scheduled for release in 2009.
They are now aggressively adding languages and courses. Foundation courses have been released for Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese and Polish, with Advanced courses for each of these languages scheduled for release within the next year, along with a Greek Foundation and Advanced course.
These new additions are exciting. I actually have the courses (all of them I think) for Spanish, Italian, French and German, but have never yet given them a decent listen. I will start with Spanish since it is the language freshest in my mind, so at least I can see how Michel Thomas works in detail.
A reader of the blog actually tipped me off to the release of the Dutch course, which really has me excited about the Michel Thomas method (thanks Alan!), and the recent rapid expansion of Michel Thomas courses. I'll work through the Spanish courses, and if I really like it I'll get the Dutch course. But I have to time it just right - if I finish it too soon before the Dutch Advanced course comes out in January, I'll go nuts for too long waiting for it to be released!
Michel Thomas himself recorded courses for French, Spanish, Italian and German. For each of these languages there is an 8 cd Foundation course, a 5 cd advanced course and a 2 cd language builder course. I believe there is also a vocabulary course as well.
Since Michel Thomas has died, there have been several more languages added. Using his technique, Foundation and Advanced courses for Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Russian were released, and vocabulary courses are scheduled for release in 2009.
They are now aggressively adding languages and courses. Foundation courses have been released for Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese and Polish, with Advanced courses for each of these languages scheduled for release within the next year, along with a Greek Foundation and Advanced course.
These new additions are exciting. I actually have the courses (all of them I think) for Spanish, Italian, French and German, but have never yet given them a decent listen. I will start with Spanish since it is the language freshest in my mind, so at least I can see how Michel Thomas works in detail.
A reader of the blog actually tipped me off to the release of the Dutch course, which really has me excited about the Michel Thomas method (thanks Alan!), and the recent rapid expansion of Michel Thomas courses. I'll work through the Spanish courses, and if I really like it I'll get the Dutch course. But I have to time it just right - if I finish it too soon before the Dutch Advanced course comes out in January, I'll go nuts for too long waiting for it to be released!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Michel Thomas
There is a new book out about Michel Thomas and his language learning method. Read this article about him and the book. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/sep/02/languages.schools
His method is interesting. He essentially breaks down a language and then teaches how to construct sentences with its components. By using a lot of 'pattern recognition' the student quickly applies what is learned. He also uses a lot of cognates with English in order to help the student get into the language a bit.
His published audio method gets some flak for a few reasons. One, his audio course is just himself sitting down with two students and teaching them with his method as we listen in and participate as a third student. Some people criticize this technique as slowing things down (as we listen to the other student fumble on something we have no trouble with, for example) or wasting time better suited to focusing on the listener.
Another complaint is the fact that he himself is not a native speaker of any of the languages he teaches. Therefore, his accent (Polish, I believe) muddies up our pronunciation. We are learning a Polish accented French or Spanish!
I think that, like any other language method, I would recommend using a Michel Thomas course supplemented with another course (or two) that would nullify those problems. I think his course can be a very effective way to learn how to be functional in a language.
Michel Thomas himself only made courses for French, Spanish, Italian and German. Recently however, courses have been made using his techniques for Russian, Arabic and Chinese. I would hope that more languages would be coming. I would love to have Swedish or Dutch but I won't hold my breath!
See this BBC video on his fascinating life and teaching method. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ3xvL22hLE
His method is interesting. He essentially breaks down a language and then teaches how to construct sentences with its components. By using a lot of 'pattern recognition' the student quickly applies what is learned. He also uses a lot of cognates with English in order to help the student get into the language a bit.
His published audio method gets some flak for a few reasons. One, his audio course is just himself sitting down with two students and teaching them with his method as we listen in and participate as a third student. Some people criticize this technique as slowing things down (as we listen to the other student fumble on something we have no trouble with, for example) or wasting time better suited to focusing on the listener.
Another complaint is the fact that he himself is not a native speaker of any of the languages he teaches. Therefore, his accent (Polish, I believe) muddies up our pronunciation. We are learning a Polish accented French or Spanish!
I think that, like any other language method, I would recommend using a Michel Thomas course supplemented with another course (or two) that would nullify those problems. I think his course can be a very effective way to learn how to be functional in a language.
Michel Thomas himself only made courses for French, Spanish, Italian and German. Recently however, courses have been made using his techniques for Russian, Arabic and Chinese. I would hope that more languages would be coming. I would love to have Swedish or Dutch but I won't hold my breath!
See this BBC video on his fascinating life and teaching method. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ3xvL22hLE
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