7 frequently asked questions about learning English with the Callan Method

Many people ask us about the advantages of learning English with the Callan Method when they come to our academy in Barcelona. Some people have already heard of the method or know someone else who has taken a course and want to know if all the advantages that the method seems to offer are true; others know nothing about this methodology and want to know what benefits it has over other English teaching systems.

In this article we are going to try to answer the most frequently asked questions that anyone who is interested in learning English with the Callan Method asks us. We hope you find it helpful.

The first big question that everyone asks us is:

What is the Callan Method for learning English?

The Callan Method has become famous because it allows you to speak and understand English very quickly, which is what most people want when they decide to study a language: to become more fluent.
Before starting, you will always be given a free level test to ensure that you will be in the level and the class that fits you best. There are 12 levels or ‘Stages’ to learn English with the Callan Method. At the end of each level, you will also take a level test or exam to ensure that you have mastered the subject matter.

See Callan Method Levels and CEFR equivalence

This teaching method is used successfully in more than 40 countries and helps thousands of people learn English and Spanish quickly and efficiently every day at accredited language academies, such as Callan School in Barcelona.
In each class, you learn new grammar and vocabulary.

You practise using it, and everything is also systematically revised so that you can remember what you have learned.

If you have to take any English exams such as Cambridge (A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency), IELTS, TOEIC or TOEFL, the Callan Method is the fastest way to acquire the language skills you need to speak fluently and confidently and pass these tests.

The contents of each Stage in the Callan Method general English course closely reflect both the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) and all the word lists and grammar points necessary for the popular international English exams.

How the Callan Method works

The Callan method works very well for most people with any level of English, although it is true that, as it is a different learning system from what most people are used to, it can take a little while to adapt to it. But if you give it a little time, you will end up getting hooked and without realizing it, find that you are learning English very quickly.

Unlike other language teaching methods, with this method:

The teacher speaks quickly so that you learn to understand English spoken at a normal speed.
The teacher constantly asks each student questions so that they listen to and use English to the maximum.
While you are speaking, the teacher instantly corrects your grammatical and pronunciation errors and you learn from these corrections.
In each class you practise a lot of oral expression and aural comprehension as well as reading and writing skills.

What are English classes like with this method?

English classes with the Callan method are held in small groups (of up to 10 people) and last 80 minutes, which includes about 70 minutes of spoken English, 5 minutes of reading, and 5 minutes of dictation.

In the first part of the class, the teacher asks students questions on the material from the previous class and corrects any mistakes they might make while they are answering.
The reading practice and dictation usually take place halfway through the class.
In the reading part, you read out loud while the teacher helps you and corrects the mistakes you make.
In the dictation, you practise writing, but at the same time you are listening to the teacher.

The reading and dictation practice that take place in class are also part of the systematic review of the Callan method. First, you learn new words during the speaking part; after several lessons, you encounter these words in the reading; and finally, they appear in a dictation.

Why teachers speak so fast

In a Callan English class, whether in person or online, you will see that the teacher speaks quickly and repeats the questions twice. First, this is because the English speak quickly and so in this way it will be easier for you to get used to this natural way of speaking English. The idea is that you will be able to understand without first having to translate mentally into your own language.

Repeating the sentences gives you a second chance to listen in case you didn’t understand everything the first time and you don’t have to think, you just listen and repeat.
The teacher then says the beginning of the answer to help you start speaking and not have to think too much about your language and start translating.

The teacher will always go along with you as you are answering in case you forget a word or are unsure at any time by telling you the next word or words.
The student always tries to keep talking and only repeats what the teacher says when he or she cannot continue on his or her own.
With this repetition-correction method you gain confidence and learn faster.

All language schools and English teachers who teach classes with this method have received specific training to teach with the Callan Method and carry out annual tests to help them continue improving.

Why I find it difficult to learn English.

Why the teacher constantly corrects you

In English or Spanish classes using the Callan Method, the teacher corrects each of your mistakes the moment you make them. The teacher corrects you by repeating your mistake and then saying the correct form of the word so that you can say it again. You don’t have time to think, you just repeat and absorb the correct form.

This correction by imitation helps you hear the difference between the mistake and the correct English form.
You learn a lot with this type of correction of your mistakes.
Constant correction allows you to advance more quickly in your language learning.

During the class, the teacher always uses contractions (for example, “I don’t” instead of “I do not”) because it is the natural way of speaking English and it will make it easier for you later to understand a native when you speak to them, as your English will also sound more natural and comfortable to speak.

Why the teacher constantly asks questions

Callan Method books are full of questions and each question is designed to practise a word, expression or a grammatical structure.

In English and Spanish classes:

The teacher asks questions to the students one by one.
Since you never know when he or she will ask you a question, you have to stay focused throughout the whole class.
While you are answering the teacher’s question, he or she will correct any mistakes in your sentence, and then once you have finished he or she will immediately start asking another student the next question.

The teacher repeats each question twice. This way, you always have another chance to listen in case you didn’t understand everything the first time. Afterwards, the teacher says the beginning of the answer to «push» you to start answering.

As the goal is for you to practise speaking as much as possible, you always create complete sentences when you speak in class, using the same grammatical structure as that used in the question.
In this way, you create complete sentences with the vocabulary and grammar you need to learn in class, and you are not just answering a question.

What advantages does this language teaching method have for the student?

English courses with the Callan Method, whether in person or online, always give maximum importance to oral expression practice, and yet at the same time are highly structured grammatically from the first class.

Classes are fast-paced and packed with content.
There is no group chatting or talking between students, because it’s almost always the same people speaking, they only use the English they already know and it’s very difficult to correct mistakes in a conversation between several people.
Conversations should take place before or after class.

With the Callan method, each student speaks and listens, practices different vocabulary and structures and learns from correcting their mistakes. There’s no time to get bored. In each lesson, you learn new grammar and vocabulary. You practise using it immediately, and everything is systematically reviewed so you will remember what you’ve learned.

You don’t sit in silence, doing a reading comprehension test or a grammar exercise from a book. You don’t have a conversation where you can only use words and grammar structures you’re already comfortable with.

Of course, activities like this can help you, but we think it’s much more beneficial to do them at home or in a café with your classmates.

And above all, the teacher evaluates each of his or her students every lesson, since he or she always interacts individually with them, so it is easier for him or her to get to know what type of support each individual student needs.

Find out your level of English

The Callan method is perfect for learning to speak English

I hope I have answered these questions that many people ask us when they come to our English academy in Barcelona to find out about our courses using the Callan Method.

As you can see, Callan is a systematic method of teaching languages (both English and Spanish) used in selected schools with native teachers trained in the method which, as we have seen, always prioritises emphasizes oral expression.
The classes are 100% active and hands-on. In the class, the teacher speaks English naturally, quickly and always uses contractions, while asking students questions in a random order and correcting their mistakes as they answer, because it is the fastest way to speak a language.

If you would like more information about our English and Spanish courses in Barcelona or our online courses, call us on 93 415 54 52 and we will provide you with all the information you need, no strings attached. Remember that we also have special rates for young people, seniors and the unemployed.

^{Translated by Melissa Bland}