The Berlitz Method
The Berlitz Method has been at the heart of all Berlitz language instruction since 1878. Invented by our founder, Maximilian Berlitz, the Berlitz Method is the first-known immersive teaching method and has shaken up traditional language learning styles since its inception.
This is the Berlitz Method
The Berlitz Method lets you approach a new language in a natural fashion. In other words, in your Berlitz course you only speak and hear your target language – which means you learn it as though you were in the country where the language is spoken.
The Berlitz Method is the most effective way to learn a language. It provides a systematic approach that focuses on meeting specific goals and draws on the latest findings and innovations in linguistic research.
The key elements of the method are:
- Immersive: Your instructor teaches and addresses you in your target language only. Language is presented in context of real-life situations with a focus on communication.
- Goal orientated: Each lesson is task-based with specific learning goals. This allows you to put your new language to use in actual situations right away.
- Present, practice and perform: To help you absorb your new language, every lesson follows this structure. New content is presented by your instructor, you take part in both guided practice and general practice and are then encouraged to perform what you have learnt.
This immersive experience allows you to overcome any inhibitions about speaking and apply your new skills in everyday situations.
Specially trained instructors
Our instructors also receive intensive training – in addition to special learning techniques, they apply methods that boost your self-confidence and motivation to learn a language, encourage you to speak, and keep a firm focus on your personal goals.
Learning grammar at Berlitz
Grammar is always learned in a communication- and topic-based context and internalized through structured practice. Our trainers make certain to strike a balance between fluency and accuracy of expression.
Get to know the Berlitz Method: Test it now in one of our free trial lessons for English or German trainings.
How the Berlitz Method developed
Like many great discoveries, the Berlitz Method came about because of chance, specific circumstances, and a creative mind. While teaching in Providence, Maximilian Berlitz hired Joly, a young Frenchman as his assistant.
However, upon Joly’s arrival in the U.S., Berlitz found out that his new assistant did not speak a single word of English. During this time, Berlitz fell very ill and had no choice but to let Joly take over his teaching duties. Berlitz instructed Joly to use gestures to act out his meaning, encouraging him to use vocabulary in context so his French students could begin to understand the meaning.
After six weeks, Berlitz returned to the classroom expecting his students to be far behind in their language development. Instead, to his surprise, his students were more engaged than ever, communicating in an animated exchange of questions and answers – in perfect French!
Having been forced to learn from a French-only speaker accelerated their learning. As a result, a completely new and highly effective method of teaching was created.
We have since continued to develop our approach to keep pace with the latest educational principles. For example, today our methodology includes individual needs analysis and has been combined with digital media and our e-learning platform.
The Berlitz Method for Business Seminars
Alongside our methodological innovations in language learning, our business seminars are also built around modern, practice-based techniques.
- Your learning objectives: We never lose sight of your individual learning goals. Our seminar concepts and mix of methods are guided by our participants’ needs.
- Mix of methods: We use exercises, case studies, simulations, and transfer tasks to make sure you stay motivated and participate actively in the seminar.
- Theory and practice: Our courses are based on tried-and-tested theories and techniques that we teach and practice with you in our seminars and you can apply immediately in real-life situations.
- Applied learning: Because your goal is to successfully master everyday workplace challenges, this is the yardstick by which we measure our success.
Find out more
Contact us today with your questions. Your Berlitz team will contact you shortly.