Berlitz International, Inc, derives from an institution founded by Maximilian Berlitz in 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Its headquarters are in Princeton, New Jersey.
Berlitz teaches languages using Berlitz Method of Language Instruction. This "method" pioneered the direct method and what later became popularized as the audio lingual method. The direct method, as opposed to the traditional grammar translation method, advocates teaching through the target language only - the rationale being that students will be able to work out grammatical rules from the input language provided, without necessarily being able to explain the rules overtly, while the audio-lingual approach advocates listening and speaking, rather than reading and writing, as the main mode of input and practice. Many years ago, this approach was seen as odd in a time when language-acquisition was seen as an intellectual or academic pursuit which required a knowledge of and familiarity with overt grammatical description. However, the Berlitz mix of direct method and audio-lingual and communicative approach became popular with adults who needed to become functional in a foreign language for business or professional reasons without learning grammar.
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Maximilian Berlitz 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. He later started his own language school. 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 take classes to the best of his ability. When he recovered Berlitz expected to face a barrage of complaints from his neglected students. Instead he found them engaging in lively discussion in perfectly accented French with their teacher. The students had progressed further under the French assistant than they ever had done using the classical method of teaching.
Berlitz quickly understood that here was the seed of an innovative teaching technique; replacing learning by rote with a stimulating process of discovery. Berlitz’s innovative method utilizing only the target language with native speakers remains successful and very popular today.
The school thrived and expanded, and over time the Berlitz Method has been fine tuned, and innovations using computers, DVDs, and video have been adopted. In 2008 there were over 429 language centers located throughout 70 countries worldwide, providing instruction in the client's own offices as well as on the Berlitz premises.
A few teachers in other countries have joined in demanding higher wages and benefits. Some Teachers in The Netherlands, Germany, Korea and Canada branches of Berlitz have begun pressing for better wages and better conditions according to Berlitz General Union Tokyo emails and fliers. However, there is not much confirmation of the extent of the unrest and it seems that the protests are only sporadic and very limited. (The claims are made by the Japanese Union Begunto in their website in an article entitled, "Declaration of Solidarity from Berlitz Germany Wed, 05/20/2009," http://www.berlitzuniontokyo.org/?q=node/101 Article both in English and German.
When a student wants to learn a language with Berlitz, he or she is first assessed to determine the student's current level of knowledge. The Berlitz Levels are:
• 1 - 2: Functional: command of the language sufficient to communicate in a very limited way, in the simplest oral and listening situations.
• 3 - 4. Intermediate: able to converse in English with others on a variety of general subjects and can understand discussions on familiar topics.
• 5 - 6: Upper-intermediate: can communicate competently and comfortably in English in many professional and personal situations.
• 7 - 8: Advanced: speakers are at an advanced level in their command of English.
• 9 - 10: Professional/Native: speakers are at the professional level and have full command of the English language.
Berlitz became a subsidiary of Macmillan Publishers in 1966. Berlitz became a publicly traded company 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 its shares are no longer publicly traded.
In February 2002 the publishing arm of Berlitz, Berlitz Publishing[1], was acquired by Apa Publications (part of the Langenscheidt Publishing Group [2]).
Berlitz income from sales of services and products has increased every year for the past five years. For the fiscal years 2004 to 2008 it was (in thousands of US dollars): 395,260, 423,489, 464,923, 529,776, 607,900[1]
The total number of language lessons given during the year 2008 was 7,256 thousand. The number of company-operated language centers was 429 as of December 31, 2008.[1]
In 1963 Berlitz was criticized by academics for teaching students only to speak the language, and failing to teach students grammar or to comprehend such things as the nuances of foreign-language poetry.[2]
In the late 1980s there were complaints that the company’s competitors had overtaken them in adopting the internet and using CDs and video discs. There were also criticisms about the Berlitz In-house designed Instruction Manuals and many said they were not up-to-date. Somewhat tardily, Berlitz reacted. The instruction manuals were completely overhauled to be more suitable for modern executives. A very broad range of audio and video disks was introduced and made available to students. Cooperation with Time-Warner enabled a modern up-market Berlitz Magazine to be introduced and made available to students. Cooperation with Sesame Street enabled the Children’s instruction programs to be up-dated and made more attractive.
The innovations proved to be popular but there were still criticisms about the size and weight of the new instruction manuals. This time Berlitz acted more swiftly and the manuals were slimmed down physically to a manageable size. At the same time, the use of interactive computer programs to supplement students studies was widened and modernized.
The claim that Berlitz is expensive is often leveled, but big name companies such as IBM, Daimler, Siemens, Proctor and Gamble, Caterpillar, and Conoco Phillips continue to use the company.
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