Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi everybody,

Who of you has had any experiences with the Callan Method? Thanks in advance. What do you think are the advantages and disavdantages of this system? Have you ever tried anything similar? Thanks in advance. Torsten

Dear Torsten,
See the "Direct method positives" thread a page or two back. The Avalon system I rather like is an updated version of the Callan.

However, teaching it can get dull, and the management will want you to do things EXACTLY their way! (and do an unpaid training week)
Woodcutter

Personally I'd recommend any student to avoid any school that swears by its "method". People are different, they learn in different ways and any teacher who adopts a "one size fits all" approach to teaching a group of students instead of getting to know the individuals in his or her class and responding to their specific needs is a waste of space. Any institution that forces its staff to adopt one method is a waste of students' time and money.

Teachers and students alike should walk (run?) away from any school with "method" in its name.

Teachers might want to run a mile, according to taste.

Students pay a lot of money, sometimes, to switch from a regular school to a method school, on advice of friends. After all, in most normal classes a particular individual is hardly going to see the teacher alter the class in a way which appeals to that person's particular taste. I have attended many language classes, and I don't think any language teacher has gone about their business with MY needs in mind. They had their own style. That style might be pretty rotten from my point of view. In a method school you are at least guaranteed something serious and regular, which you can taste in advance, and you will find plenty of old students who will tell you they found it effective too.