Training Example: Michel Thomas (Hachette UK) – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

[H2] LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE IN HOURS, NOT YEARS
Arabic (Egyptian)Arabic (Modern Standard)DanishDutchFrenchGermanGreekHindiItalianIrishJapaneseKoreanMandarin ChineseNorwegianPolishPortugueseRussianSpanishSwedish

[H2] LEARNING SHOULD BE ABOUT EXCITEMENT, NOT WORK

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[H2]
OUR LEARNERS SAY

[IMG: Owner of online language school, Joy of Languages, who learnt beginners French, beginners Spanish and beginners Italian with the Michel Thomas Method.]
“I’ve used Michel Thomas to get off the starting block for French, Italian and Spanish and I’m always surprised by how much I can say after only a few hours of listening.”
– Katie Harris, Bloggerjoyoflanguages.com
[IMG: Anglo-Danish actor Peter O’S Løvstrøm learning Spanish with the Michel Thomas Method.]
“I experienced the same sort of pleasure that you got from suddenly getting a crossword clue right or cracking a code…the finger-snapping moment of, Oh My God! I’ve just understood what you’ve said to me in Spanish!”
– Peter O’S. LøvstrømActor
[IMG: Author and actor Stephen Fry showing support for the Michel Thomas language teaching Method.]
“A unique and brilliant way of teaching languages.”
– Stephen Fryin Rescuing the Spectacled Bear

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EFFORTLESS LEARNING

Go from absolute beginner to confident speaker – all without books, homework or having to memorize anything. The Michel Thomas Method is the fastest and most effective way to learn a new language.

Based on 25 years of extensive scientific research on how the brain learns, and perfected over 25 years of teaching academics, business people, politicians and Hollywood stars, the highly acclaimed Michel Thomas Method online audio courses provide an accelerated method for learning that will have you speaking in whole sentences right from the start. You will quickly build a solid foundation and gain a deep understanding of a new language, be delighted at your phenomenal progress, and motivated to carry on.

You learn the new language naturally, as you learned your own, by listening and speaking, gradually building your confidence and increasing your fluency. You will enjoy the Method as it creates real excitement – you can’t wait to use the language.

The online, all-audio method makes it easy and convenient to fit it into your daily routine. So stop procrastinating and start learning a new language today – download our audio courses to our app to learn offline or stream them directly from our website.

[IMG: Using the Michel Thomas Language Library app on mobile, tablet and desktop.]

[H2]
AS SEEN IN

[IMG: Logo of the Guardian newspaper which endorses the Michel Thomas method.]

“Michel Thomas isa precious find indeed”
[IMG: Logo of the Times newspaper which endorses the Michel Thomas method.]

“The nearest thing to painless learning”
[IMG: Logo of tourist and travel magazine Time Out which endorses the Michel Thomas method.]

“Five minutes in and you alreadyfeel like you’re winning”

[H1] Become an Affiliate
Join our affiliate program and embark on a rewarding journey of promoting one of the most acclaimed language learning systems in the world. As an affiliate, you’ll have the opportunity to earn generous commissions while helping language enthusiasts discover the joy of effortless language acquisition.

We are delighted to announce that our affiliate programme will be going live soon, but in the meantime, please register your interest via our email form to be kept up to date.

[H1] Sales and Partnerships

If you’re looking to purchase as an educational institute, language school or corporation, please get in touch with our special sales team here.

If you’d like to explore opportunities for partnerships with the Michel Thomas Method, please email us here.

[H1] Frequently Asked Questions

[H2] MICHEL THOMAS AND THE METHOD
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[H3] Is this the right course for me?
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Anyone can learn a language with the Michel Thomas Method. Not only did Michel himself instruct the rich and famous, but he also taught many so-called ‘hopeless cases’. For example, in 1997 in a BBC documentary by Nigel Levy, Michel taught French to a group of sixteen-year-olds in north London who had been told they could never learn a language, and gave them the ability to use the new language far beyond their expectations – in just a week. Whatever your motivation for learning a language, the Michel Thomas Method quite simply offers the most effective method that is available.

[H3] How do the Michel Thomas Method courses match up to the CEFR and ACTFL proficiency scale?
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These courses teach you the structure of the language and focus on speaking, listening and understanding. They do not correlate to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scale very clearly but by the end of the Intermediate course you will have a good understanding of the language and you will have covered all verb forms in the language.

[H3] How long does it take to learn with the Michel Thomas Method?
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A knowledge of the language that will take months of conventional study can be achieved in a matter of weeks with the Michel Thomas Method. The teacher masterfully guides the student through an instructional process at a very rapid rate – yet the process will appear informal, relaxed and unhurried. The teacher moves quickly between numerous practice sessions, which all build the learners’ confidence in their ability to communicate in complex ways. Because the Michel Thomas Method is based on understanding, not memorization, there is no set limit to the length of time that you should study the course. As a general rule, it takes 3-4 hours to complete a Start course, 20-30 hours to complete a Foundation course, and 15-20 hours to complete an Intermediate course – but the courses are not divided into lessons, and you can stop and start as you please.

[H3] Who was Michel Thomas?
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Michel Thomas was born Moniek Kroskof, the only son of a Jewish family who owned a textile factory in Poland in 1914. As a young boy, Michel was sent to live in Germany to escape the anti-Semitism directed at his family. Living in Vienna in 1938, when the Nazis annexed Austria, Michel was rendered stateless as a Jew.

He fled the country for France, and when the Germans invaded, he joined the French Resistance and adopted the name Michel Thomas. He spent two brutal years in French concentration and labour camps, narrowly avoiding being sent to Auschwitz. He escaped, surviving capture, interrogation by Klaus Barbie, and torture by the Gestapo. His mastery of languages enabled him to adopt many identities. At the end of the war, he masterminded operations to uncover war criminals and infiltrate underground Nazi groups.

In 1944, Michel was nominated for the Silver Star medal for his service to the US Army’s 45th Infantry Division in France. The award was finally presented to him in May 2004, sixty years later.

It was during Michel’s wartime experiences, particularly his torture by the Gestapo, that he became aware of the immense, largely untapped, power of the brain. By focusing all his strength on inventing a story plausible enough to satisfy his torturers, he discovered an ability to place his mind beyond the physical and to block out pain. He said, “I concentrated so hard, that I stopped feeling pain. I was amazed at myself.”

Fascinated by this experience, he was determined that after the war, he would devote himself to exploring how the brain worked and dedicated his life to education. “I contemplated the untapped reserves of the human mind. The great hidden depths of the brain. I learned from it.”

In 1947, he moved to Los Angeles and set up the Michel Thomas Language Centers, teaching languages for over fifty years in New York, Beverly Hills and London.

His extraordinary life and revolutionary teaching methods were documented in Nigel Levy’s film The Language Master, which brought Michel Thomas to a wider public in the UK and beyond for the first time.

[H3] How can I find out more about Michel Thomas?
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There are a few books about the Michel Thomas, including Christopher Robbins’ Test of Courage (a biography) and Dr Jonathan Solity’s The Learning Revolution (a history of the man and his method). His extraordinary life and revolutionary teaching methods were documented in Nigel Levy’s film The Language Master, which brought Michel Thomas to a wider public in the UK and beyond for the first time.

[H2] The courses and choosing the right one
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[H3] Which order do I do the courses in and where do I start?
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If you are unsure the method will work for you, we recommend you try the Start course first. This is the first hour of the Foundation course and will give you a good grounding. If you are confident that it is the method for you then you should begin with the Foundation course. This is an 8-hour beginner course and includes the Start course content.

Even if you have studied the language previously and wouldn’t consider yourself a complete beginner, it is a good idea to start from the beginning as the course builds on itself. If you think you have progressed passed beginner altogether, we recommend downloading the free booklets from our website so you can see for yourself the key phrases being taught so that you can determine where you need to begin (buttons which link to the free booklets can be found on each of the language pages on our website).

After that you should do the courses in this order (note not all courses are available for all levels):

1. Start2. Foundation3. Language Builder4. Intermediate5. Vocabulary Builder6. Insider’s

NB: The Start course, which is the first hour of the Foundation course, is for people who want to try the method before committing to the price of the full Foundation course. Please note that we cannot refund the Start course if you later choose to purchase the Foundation course.

[H3] Is the Michel Thomas Portuguese course for Brazilian Portuguese or European Portuguese?
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The Michel Thomas Portuguese course is for learning European Portuguese.

[H3] What is the difference between the website, apps, CDs and audio products?
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The audio content is the same across all platforms, however each product has different features.

• The website allows you to stream the audio online and access the supporting booklet for any Michel Thomas course across all your devices. It also allows you to download content to the accompanying Michel Thomas Method Library app on iOS and android. This also allows you to alter the speed of the audio if you need to.

• The audio course is available on all audio book platforms; there is also an accompanying booklet containing key vocabulary for reference.

• The CDs contain the teaching content, interactive elements and a link to the booklets online (please note some of the interactive elements are in Flash Player which is no longer supported).

Purchasing one of these will not give you access to another; they are separate products and the content is not transferable between them.

[H3] What will I learn with the Michel Thomas Method courses?
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The Michel Thomas Method teaches the everyday conversational language that will allow you to communicate in a wide variety of situations, empowered by the ability to create your own sentences and use the language naturally, having absorbed the vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Phase 1 courses

Foundation, Language Builder and Intermediate courses form the Phase 1 foundation for all your learning. These courses focus on teaching verbs and verb tenses, which form the structure of the language. While you will learn a large amount of useful vocabulary, it is limited so as not to overburden your learning.

Phase 2 courses

Vocabulary and Insider’s, the Phase 2 courses, build on your foundation by increasing your vocabulary knowledge, and conversational fluency.

[H3] What do the course names mean; what will I learn in each course?
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To get an overview of the course content please take a look at the free booklets that accompany each of our courses on our website (buttons which link to the free booklets can be found on each of our language pages).

Start

The Start course is a taster course for beginners who are new to the Michel Thomas Method. This course consists of the first hour of the audio from the Foundation course, which consists of a live lesson between a teacher and two students.

In this hour you will get a taste of the Michel Thomas Method, learning over 50 essential words and how to put them together to make yourself understood, and constructing simple phrases by listening and thinking out answers for yourself. You will learn at your own pace, pausing and repeating where necessary, to complete the taster course in 3-4 hours.

Foundation

Foundation is a beginner’s phase-1 course that teaches the basic structure of the language. You will learn along with two students, hearing both their successes and their mistakes to keep you motivated and involved throughout the course. Within the first hour you will be able to construct simple sentences, and by the end of the course you will have the confidence to understand and speak the basics of the language you are learning.

This live course lasts between 8-10 hours, but you will learn at your own pace, pausing and repeating where necessary, to complete the course in 20-30 hours. This course also includes 2 hours of review audio, with only the phrases learnt (no explanations or repetition), which should be listened to after completing the course to check your learning.

Language Builder

Language Builder is a 2-hour phase-1 course for improving beginners, which takes the form of a one-to-one seminar. This course consolidates everything you’ve learned in the Start and Foundation courses. Or, if you’re new to Michel Thomas, it’s ideal for brushing up your language skills. This course will widen your vocabulary and teach authentic phrases and expressions, as well as providing a comprehensive grasp of the structure of the language, enabling you to communicate with confidence.

Intermediate

Intermediate is a phase-1 course, taking the form of a 5-hour live lesson which expands upon what you have learnt in the Foundation and Language Builder courses. You will learn along with two students, hearing both their successes and their mistakes to keep you motivated and involved throughout the course.

As with the earlier levels, the Intermediate course breaks down the language into building blocks that are introduced sequentially so you can create more complex sentences, improve your conversation skills, and your grammar and vocabulary.

You will learn at your own pace, pausing and repeating where necessary, to complete the course in 15-20 hours.

This course also includes 1 hour of review audio, which includes only the phrases learnt (with no explanations or repetition), which should be listened to after completing the course to check your learning.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is a phase-2 course which adds key vocabulary to your foundation, with over 1000 new words and phrases. You will learn alongside two students, including speakers of the target language, so you can improve your pronunciation. The course includes 5 hours of live audio, and takes about 10-15 hours to complete.

Insider’s

Insider’s is a 5-6 hour phase-2 High Intermediate course which follows on from the previous courses. This course includes real conversations on key topics, teacher and student lessons covering language structures, and sections specifically focusing on pronunciation. The focus on colloquial language, cultural insights, and conversation strategies used by speakers of the target language will enable you to communicate more naturally and incorporate contemporary language and culture into your repertoire.

[H3] My product edition has a different name, what is the next/equivalent course?
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Below you can see how the latest edition of each course relates to their previous iterations (arranged from latest edition –> earliest edition).

Start* (latest edition) = IntroductoryFoundation** (latest edition) = Total = Foundation = Beginner’sLanguage Builder (latest edition) = Masterclass = Language BuilderIntermediate (latest edition) = Perfect = AdvancedVocabulary Course (latest edition) = Vocabulary Builder = Vocabulary Course
If you are considering a purchase, we always recommend getting the latest edition.

* Note: Start is the first hour of Foundation.** Note: Foundation includes Start.

[H3] Is there a hands-free driving mode?
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None of our course formats currently offer a hands-free driving mode, however we have had several requests for this and hope to add this functionality – stay tuned to our social media for updates.

[H3] What is the ‘classroom style’ and why is it important?
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The Michel Thomas courses are recorded in a classroom situation which takes the pressure away from you learning on your own. You enjoy the students’ success, and you learn from their mistakes. The students on the recordings are not reading from scripts and they have received no additional instruction or preparation – just the guidance you hear on the recording. You, as the learner, become the third student and participate actively in the class. You learn through your own language, so there’s no anxiety.

[H3] How does an all-audio course in ‘real time’ work?
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The courses are recorded live in a studio with two real students. Each language is learned in ‘real-time’ conditions. There is no need to stop for homework, additional exercises or vocabulary memorization. The emphasis is on giving yourself time to think out responses to the teacher’s prompts; by thinking things through, you will be embedding the language in your brain in the way that research has shown to be the most effective way of transferring information to your long-term memory.

[H3] Do we offer one-on-one lessons using the Michel Thomas Method or training as an MTM teacher?
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As a publisher we only offer audio courses of the Michel Thomas Method, we do not offer personal tuition or training in the Method.

[H3] Why doesn’t Michel Thomas teach on all the Michel Thomas Method courses?
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Michel Thomas’ legacy was such that even after his passing in 2005, customers wanted more Michel Thomas courses and also wanted new courses in major world languages. Hodder & Stoughton – publishers of the Michel Thomas Method range – responded with