Mataram — The Suggestopedia method received a highly positive response from students in the Hindu Religious Education Study Program at Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram. The finding was reported by I Gusti Lanang Ngurah Weda, I Gede Jaya Satria Wibawa, and I Ketut Putu Suardana from Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram in their article examining the implementation of Suggestopedia in English language learning. The findings show that a relaxed learning environment, positive encouragement, and creative activities can help students become more confident and willing to communicate in English.
English proficiency is increasingly important in various areas of life, including education and employment. Mastering an international language can provide broader opportunities for communication and support access to employment. However, students’ ability to use English is not determined only by vocabulary and grammar. Fear of making mistakes and a lack of confidence can also become barriers when students need to express their ideas in English.
This issue was also identified in English language learning within the Hindu Religious Education Study Program. Students still experienced difficulties expressing ideas, opinions, intentions, and thoughts in English, both orally and in writing. This condition highlights the importance of teaching methods that not only deliver learning materials but also create an environment that encourages students to communicate more confidently.
Suggestopedia is a language teaching method introduced by Bulgarian educator Georgi Lozanov. The method emphasizes the importance of a relaxed, comfortable, and positive learning environment. Students are given opportunities to learn without excessive pressure, allowing psychological barriers such as fear, anxiety, and lack of confidence to be reduced.
In practice, Suggestopedia incorporates activities such as music, songs, storytelling, drama, role-playing, and interactive communication. Students can also use their imagination by taking on particular characters or situations. This approach makes language learning more closely connected to everyday communication experiences.
Weda, Wibawa, and Suardana used a qualitative approach to examine students’ perceptions and the challenges of implementing Suggestopedia. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The informants consisted of 21 students in the Hindu Religious Education Study Program who were taking English courses, along with English lecturers teaching in the program. Supporting data were also obtained from lesson plans, textbooks, attendance records, daily assignments, midterm examinations, and final examinations.
The observations and interviews showed that students responded very positively to the method. They felt that Suggestopedia provided greater freedom to express opinions and develop ideas in English. Positive encouragement from lecturers also helped create a sense of psychological safety during the learning process.
One important aspect was students’ increased willingness to communicate. When students made mistakes in pronunciation, grammar, or spelling, they were not immediately placed under pressure. Instead, they were encouraged to keep trying. Positive responses such as praise and encouragement helped students feel valued and reduced anxiety when using English.
The variety of learning activities also contributed to students’ interest in the classroom. Activities such as role-playing, singing English songs, listening to music, storytelling, and other creative exercises helped prevent monotonous learning. Students who had previously been passive could become more willing to participate and interact during English lessons.
According to the findings, the benefits of Suggestopedia extend beyond language skills. The method can also support motivation, self-confidence, and student engagement. A relaxed learning environment allows students to follow lessons more comfortably and reduces concerns about making mistakes. The approach can also support vocabulary development and the learning of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Despite these benefits, Suggestopedia also has limitations. In its ideal form, the method requires a comfortable classroom and supporting facilities, including air conditioning, suitable furniture, appropriate lighting, and audio equipment for playing music or learning materials. Providing these facilities can require significant financial resources and may therefore be challenging for educational institutions with limited budgets.
However, limited facilities do not mean that Suggestopedia cannot be implemented. The researchers noted that its core principles can be adapted to institutional conditions. Teachers can use simple speakers, digital media, songs, stories, games, role-playing, and positive verbal encouragement to create a supportive learning environment. The essence of Suggestopedia therefore lies not only in physical facilities but also in the teacher’s ability to create a comfortable atmosphere and provide psychological support for students.
The findings provide an important perspective for English language education in higher education. Learning can be developed by considering not only academic content but also students’ emotional conditions. Lecturers can act not merely as providers of learning materials but also as facilitators who give students opportunities to explore, communicate, and learn through experience.
For the education sector, the findings can be considered when developing more communicative and student-centered English learning. Approaches such as Suggestopedia demonstrate that comfort, motivation, creativity, and confidence can play important roles in the language learning process.
The authors concluded that students in the Hindu Religious Education Study Program had a very positive perception of Suggestopedia. The method was considered capable of creating a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment while encouraging students to express their ideas, opinions, and intentions in English. The researchers also recommended lecturer preparation in applying learning variations and institutional support for the facilities required.
Authors
I Gusti Lanang Ngurah Weda — Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram
I Gede Jaya Satria Wibawa — Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram
I Ketut Putu Suardana — Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram
Research Source
Title: Implementation of the Suggestopedia Method in the English Language Learning at the Hindu Religious Education Study Program, Gde Pudja State Hindu Religious Institute of Mataram
Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4 No. 8, 2026, pages 1619–1630.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i8.141
Journal Link: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr
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