Introduction

A quiet revolution is gathering momentum in the way we learn. In the last decade or so psychologists have begun to discover more of how the brain really works and how facts can be rapidly and deeply fixed in the memory. It's on these discoveries that Accelerated Learning is based.

Historically, most teaching has been undertaken by those who were the best at the subject - the person who was "best at French", became the French teacher. But that person was not necessarily the most skilled at the principles of teaching. You employ an architect to design your house, because his speciality is the principle of construction but a builder to actually carry out the plans, because he is adept at the practice.

In a similar way psychologists have begun to define the principles behind learning, and these findings have led to a quite different approach to learning.

Conventional teaching has assumed that learning should involve determined concentration and frequent repetition. We now know that this style of learning is not efficient, because it causes unnecessary tension and it tends to involve just one half of the brain.

Accelerated Learning, in contrast, teaches you how to achieve a pleasantly relaxed, yet receptive state of mind, and presents information in new ways that actively involve both the left and right brains.

There can be no learning without memory. We remember things easily that have powerful associations for us - which is why T.V. advertisers use strong visual images, use music and rhythm, and attempt to involve our emotions. It's the reason why you can remember the words of a pop song with little or no conscious effort, yet struggle to remember a list of historical dates.

By studying why people can remember some things vividly after a single exposure, yet forget other information after dozens of repetitions, we have been able to construct new techniques of teaching. They create such powerful associations that pupils find they can literally picture what they are learning in their "mind's eye" and hear what they are learning in their "mind's ear". The methods have been evolved from studies on people with photographic memory.

Accelerated Learning, however, does not only work by setting up memorable visual and sound associations in the mind. A high proportion of all learning takes place at the subconscious level. So Accelerated Learning presents the student with new material in such a way that it is simultaneously absorbed by both the conscious and subconscious mind. Information, for example, is positioned so it can be absorbed in peripheral vision, and sentences are short and rhythmical because such facts are easily remembered.

The attraction, and paradox, is that the learner puts in no more conscious effort than normal; in fact less because she or he is relaxed. It is the fact that the material is presented in such a memorable way, to both the left and right brains, and to the conscious and subconscious mind, that accounts for the dramatic improvement in the speed and effectiveness of learning.

Accelerated Learning is not the development of one man. Dozens of Universities, Research Psychologists and professional educators have contributed to produce this unique way of presenting new information. The contributions range from the seminal work of Dr. Lozanov, to Nobel Prize winners Roger Sperry and Robert Ornstein, and to the recent work of N.L.P. researchers.

There are Accelerated Learning courses now in scores of Universities around the world. The technique has been incorporated in the Finnish school system by many individual teachers and also in the school system of the city of Chicago. Multi-national companies such as Shell Oil, General Motors and Hilton Hotels are using the method - as are dozens of U.S. Government Agencies and Embassies.

The effectiveness of Accelerated Learning has been objectively measured and Don Schuster, Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University, was able to record that "it produces at least 300% improvement in the speed and effectiveness of learning". This book presents the background to the development of Accelerated Learning, the evidence, and describes the methods step by step. You will be able to try the technique and prove it for yourself.

We believe the impact of Accelerated Learning will be felt in every area of learning. UNESCO have acknowledged its effectiveness in learning languages, and the magazine "Educational Technology" claimed that "it is a tool that allows students to absorb and retain a two year language course in as few as 20 days. Almost any factual subject matter - chemistry, financial, medical, even management sciences can be presented in this framework. It is destined to have a revolutionary impact on human resources in the days to come".

"Psychology" magazine called Accelerated Learning "The key to the 21st Century" and Educational Psychologist Dr. Jean Houston claims "we are just beginning to discover the virtually limitless capacities of the mind".

Certainly it is a timely breakthrough, because we live in an age where the fast acquisition of more and more knowledge is a necessity. Accelerated Learning can achieve this, and because the results are so immediate, learning becomes enjoyable, satisfying and therefore motivating.