I am always on the look out for resources to enhance my Spanish language learning and practice, in particular; speaking and listening.

Michel Thomas (1914–2005) was a polyglot linguist and language teacher, known for developing a unique and highly effective method of language instruction.

I use his method as a virtual tutorial, joining the two other students, on the Spanish recording as though we are all sat in his office. I pause the recording giving me time to speak correctly before hearing the other students and Michel confirm, correct or clarify our understanding and pronunciation.

It’s important to note that opinions on his method vary. Some learners find it highly effective, while others prefer different approaches. However, Thomas’s impact on language teaching and his unique philosophy have left a lasting legacy in the field of language education.

The method

Teaching Philosophy: Thomas believed that there are no bad students, only bad teachers. He emphasised the role of the teacher in creating an effective learning environment. Correcting and guiding the student immediately in an informal manner.

Methodology: His language teaching method focused on breaking down language into its component parts and building it up in a logical way. He used an audio-based approach where students would listen and participate in the lessons.

No Memorisation: One distinctive feature of his method was the avoidance of memorisation. Instead, he aimed to teach the fundamental structures of a language, allowing students to understand and construct sentences without rote learning.

Learning Stress-Free: His method was designed to be stress-free. Thomas believed that a relaxed environment is crucial for effective learning, and he often mentioned that it’s the teacher’s responsibility to ensure learning, not the student’s.

Recognition: Michel Thomas gained popularity through his language courses, and many students praised the effectiveness of his method. His courses became well-known in the realm of language learning.

Legacy: Even after his death, Michel Thomas’s language courses continue to be used by learners worldwide. The Michel Thomas Method is often considered an alternative and refreshing approach to traditional language learning.

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The man

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.  He spent two brutal years in French concentration and slave labour camps, and narrowly avoiding being sent to Auschwitz.

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.  It was during Michel’s wartime experiences that he discovered his ability to block out pain and unearth the untapped potential of the human mind. The only way he survived this period of his life was by concentrating and placing his mind beyond the physical. 

Fascinated by this experience, he was determined that, after the war, he would devote himself to exploring further the power of the human mind, and so dedicated his life to education.  In 1947, he moved to Los Angeles and set up the Michel Thomas Language Centres, from where he taught languages for over fifty years in New York, Beverly Hills and London. 

Michel Thomas died of heart failure at his home in New York City on Saturday 8th January 2005. He was 90 years old.