Berlitz Language Schools
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Berlitz Language Schools, now known as Berlitz International, Inc, derive from an institution founded by Maximilian Berlitz in 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island. It has now expanded into an international franchise with some 600 schools worldwide. The success of the school has been based on the direct method of language instruction, in which pupils learn the new language from scratch, which at its most basic form begins with the teacher pointing to a pen and saying, "It's a pen."
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[edit] History
Berlitz had immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1872 with the intent of teaching Greek, Latin, and six other European languages according to the traditional grammar-translation approach. Working as a private teacher for a few years, he later joined Warner Polytechnic College as a professor of French and German language instruction.
The school was severely understaffed, and Berlitz served simultaneously as owner, dean, principal, and only faculty member. Needing an assistant who could teach French, Berlitz hired a Frenchman named Nicholas Joly. Joly had been the most promising candidate, but when the Frenchman arrived in Providence, Berlitz was horrified to find that Joly spoke no English. Already infirm from overwork, Berlitz went on sick leave and told Joly to lead classes to the best of the Frenchman’s ability. Berlitz asked his assistant to point at objects, repeating the French word for them, and act out verbs.
The method was seen as a success. Berlitz returned after six weeks to find the students engaged in fluent exchanges with Joly. The students had progressed more than they would have under traditional rote techniques. Berlitz began to employ this method in the school, and the school—and its ideas—achieved success over time.
[edit] Berlitz Program Levels
When a student wants to study a language with Berlitz, he or she must first be placed at a particular level:
- 1/2: Functional: Beginners learn to say simple sentences.
- 3/4. Intermediate: The student learns to function in everyday situations like ordering a meal or getting directions.
- 5/6: Upper-intermediate: The student begins having simple conversations.
- 7/8: Advanced: The student practices having more complicated conversations and has mastered the grammar.
- 9/10: Professional: The student learns specific vocabulary and idioms for his or her profession.
Free Internet-delivered placement tests are offered in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish (Internet Explorer and Flash Player 6.0.65.0 or greater required).
[edit] Ownership
Berlitz became a subsidiary of Macmillan Publishers in 1966. Berlitz became a publicly traded franchise in 1988 after Maxwell Communication Corporation took over Macmillan. However, in 2001, Berlitz was acquired by Fukutake Publishing Co., Ltd., now known as the Benesse Corporation, and is no longer publicly traded.
[edit] Language Center Locations
There are more than 450 Berlitz Language Centers in over 60 countries.
- Africa & Middle East
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Asia
- China
- Hong Kong S.A.R.
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Australia
- Australia
- Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russian Federation
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- North & Central America
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Mexico
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- United States
- South America
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
