About the Method

The Callan Method is a fast and effective system for the study of English by non-native speakers. Thanks to its long record of achievement, it is securely established and internationally respected. Multinational companies like IBM, Fiat, and Olivetti have used the Method to teach English to their staff. Language schools which use the Callan Method can be found all over the world. Whether in Asia, Europe, or Latin America, the number of Callan Method Schools continues to rise.

Order of learning - ear, mouth, eye, hand

A Callan Method student learns english as a child learns its own language: first through ear, then through the mouth, then through the eye, and finally through the hand. The student like a child first hears the word spoken, then imitates what he hears, later he sees the word written, and then finally writes it himself.

Speed

The two meanings of Speed:

1. The speed of speaking and understanding;

Normal conversational speed is 180 words a minute. The Callan Method Teacher speaks at a minimum of 200 to 240 words a minute. It trains the student to hear English spoken at faster than normal conversational speed, so that when he hears the language spoken outside the classroom, he has no difficulty understanding it. Teachers using other forms of teaching usually speak slower than conversational speed, which makes it difficult for the student to understand the language outside the classroom.

2. The speed of progressing through the Callan Method books and reaching a certain desired level;

The Callan Method teaches in a quarter of the normal time. Instead of taking 350 hours (four academic years) to get the average student through the Cambridge Preliminary, it takes only 80 hours (one academic year).

Revisions

The Callan Method achieves speed of speaking and understanding by asking the students the same questions every day until they can understand and answer them at top speed. This top speed is usually attained after the students have heard the questions on four or five occasions. Revising everything so many times not only ensures speed of speaking and understanding , but also ensures that the student remembers what he learns, no matter how poor his memory.

The Method is infallible

How it is possible to guarantee everyone success in the learning of a language - surely it depends on the individual's natural ability? Contrary to popular belief anyone can learn a foreign language, exactly as anyone can learn to type. We have all learnt one language already - our own. Consequently, we are all capable of learning another language. With the Callan Method, the student never fails to learn. If this were not so, schools using the Callan Method could not guarantee every student success in the Cambridge exams. Some students learn slower than others and they may need more time to learn the language but eventually everyone can get the same result.

Callan Method in action

Please click here to see the Callan Method in action. The lesson was conducted in the Callan School in London.