With Michel Thomas’ passing on January 8, 2005, the world lost one of the best language learners and teachers to ever live. And live he did. Born to wealthy Jewish factory owners in Poland, Michel (born Moniek Kroskof) was sent to live in Germany when growing anti-Semitism began to limit his opportunities at home. He later studied in France and Austria, but as history shows, none of these countries were safe from the spread of Nazism. Michel joined the French Resistance (at which time he changed his name), but was later caught and interned by the Nazis. After surviving not just one, but multiple Nazi concentration camps, he went on to work with the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps to fight his former captors, a duty for which he was awarded the Silver Star in 2004. Just as the awful reality of internment led Viktor Frankl to uncover the true human power, so too it did for Michel, who states:

“I concentrated so hard that I stopped feeling pain.”

“I contemplated the untapped reserves of the human mind. The great hidden depths of the brain. I learned from it.”

After World War II, Michel moved to Los Angeles where he began a language school, continuing to refine his language teaching approach. Given his location and growing reputation for fast and effective language teaching, he went on to teach many Hollywood stars, including Woody Allen, Sofia Loren, Emma Thompson, Doris Day, Barbara Streisand, and Mel Gibson. But his star-studded résumé is not what impresses me; it is his inspired attitude toward learning that earns my respect:

“Learning should be excitement. Learning should be pleasure. And one should experience a constant sense of progression. And one would want more. That is learning to me. And a teacher is somebody who will facilitate and show how to learn.”

If you visit the Michel Thomas Method website, you will see a simple, only mildly marketing-esque slogan:

“No books. No writing. No memorising. Just confidence fast.”

This sums up the method fairly well. Much like the Pimsleur Approach, the Michel Thomas Method is completely audio-based. The learner is encouraged not to overtly memorize words and phrases; the brain should automatically internalize them if the teacher (in this case Michel) breaks the language down into sufficiently small chunks and then puts them back together in a sufficiently intuitive, logical, step-by-step approach. And that is exactly what The Michel Thomas Approach promises.

What I Like About The Michel Thomas Method

There is a lot to like about the Michel Thomas Method:

Michel Thomas is a Master Teacher

Having taught languages myself for a number of years, I know a good teacher when I see (or rather hear) one. Michel does a brilliant job of presenting languages in an intuitive, step-by-step, build-repeat-build-repeat method that quickly leads to retention and intuitive mastery.

To see Michel in action, check out The Language Master documentary from the BBC, which shows him teaching French to a group of British high school students who had either no previous exposure to French, or who had tried and failed. You will also learn more background about his experiences in World War II, and his failed attempts to get his method used in public schools and universities.

Just Enough Grammar

If you have read my other articles, you know that I am not a big fan of extensive grammar study. Many learners spend all (or most) of their time learning rules about the language but are unable to actually apply them in real-time communication. This is because grammar study leads to declarative memory, not procedural memory (the kind that is needed to understand and use a language). That said, I do think a little grammar knowledge can be useful, and Michel Thomas is very good at providing useful grammar lessons without boring or distracting the learner, bite-sized tips that help you guess your way through the language before you have received enough exposure to intuit patterns at a more subconscious level.

Proper Pronunciation is Stressed Above all Else

As I often say, “Pronunciation trumps grammar”. Proper syntax is obviously important, but you will be more easily understood if you pronounce things correctly with broken grammar, than perfect grammar pronounced with a strong, improperly stressed accent. In the Spanish program for example, Michel points out how important it is to “push down” on the right part of certain Spanish words to be understood by native speakers.

Overly Technical Grammatical Terms are Avoided

As you saw in the last point, Michel uses the concept of “push down” instead of talking about “word stress”. Even as a linguist familiar with linguistic jargon, I much prefer his more tangible, approachable wording.

Sufficient Repetition Without Stagnation

While the Michel Thomas Method doesn’t use a formulaic spaced repetition schedule like Pimsleur’s “Graduated Interval Recall”, you will find that the courses offer enough repetition to really hit home the words you hear without boring you to death.

Learning Alongside Others Builds Confidence

Though I was initially skeptical of this part of the course, I think it can be greatly encouraging to new learners (especially those who have never learned any foreign languages). Often times, you may find that you know the answer even when the learners on the CD don’t. This can be very encouraging, helping give you the extra psychological juice you need to keep going. But don’t let it go to your head: if we were being recorded, we’d likely make just as many mistakes!

More Affordable than Pimsleur & Rosetta Stone

Michel Thomas pricing is as follows but you can often buy them for much less on Amazon.

• Start Courses: $15
• Total Courses: $130
• Perfect Courses: $130
• Master Classes: $75

Available for Most Major Languages

The following Michel Thomas courses are currently available:

• Arabic (Egyptian)
• Dutch
• French
• German
• Greek
• Hindi
• Italian
• Irish
• Japanese
• Korean
• Mandarin Chinese
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish

Now Available in App Form

For those wanting to learn using 21st century tools, there are now apps available for iOS and Android:

• iOS
• Android

What Could Be Better

Even the best course has its downsides. Here are few elements of the Michel Thomas Method that I don’t care for:

Other Learners Can Slow Things Down

Although I liked learning Spanish alongside the other beginner students, it was sometimes a bit annoying when I was ready to move on and they were still struggling to get things right. This is one of the same reasons I don’t usually like taking formal classes: they move as fast as the slowest student.

Audio Only Has its Limitations

While I like the fact that course gets your ears and mouth used to the language first (many learners start with and get trapped in the written language), it would be nice to be able to go back later (only after completing each course) and see the words and phrases written out. Listening and speaking are definitely the foundation of a language, and Michel is right to prioritize them, but most learners will want to read and write the language as well. To help foster reading skills but without going against the method, perhaps the words and phrases from the course could be used in a fun, fictional story that reinforces what has been learned without trying to present them in a traditional, dry approach.

Cost is Prohibitive for Some

Although I think the courses are reasonably priced, especially alongside the inflated prices of Rosetta Stone, I know many learners who will have a hard time laying out the cash for these courses even at the steep discounts offered on Amazon.

Lots of Time Spent in English

Given how the method works, this is an inevitable downside, but it is a downside nonetheless. I have this same criticism of many language programs, courses, and classes, in fact, but unlike most courses, the positive results of the Michel Thomas Method far outweigh this limitation.

My Verdict

If you can afford the course or get a copy from your local library, I highly recommend using the courses for your target language or languages. I discovered his method far too late in my language learning journey and only wish I could go back in time and give myself this course.