The Silent Way has been around since the late 1950s and has been a topic of discussion amongst language teachers since its inception. The discussions circle around what it is, how it works, why a teacher should remain silent, if it’s useful for students of higher levels. Inevitably, these discussions have given rise to myths and misunderstandings.

My purpose in the workshop is to present Silent Way as I understand it, based on my direct contacts with the originator, Dr Caleb Gattegno in the 1980s and based also on my work using Silent Way or my own adaptations of it in the 40 years that I have been using it or thinking about it.

I will try to clarify the principle pillars of Silent Way, explain, to some degree the philosophy behind it and the practice of it. The workshop will attempt to demystify Silent Way and suggest that in its austerity it is very much fit for purpose as a foil to today’s overly ornate world of ELT.

Presented by Steve Hirschhorn – Award-winning Teacher Trainer, Former School Principal & Director of TESOL.