Berlitz (the man, not the school just yet) was born in the late 19th century in Providence, Rhode Island. As a young man, he had a great passion for language that went well with his charisma and his knack for drama — all skills that would be a boon for him by 1878, when he finally founded his famous school.
So, How Did He Get the Idea?
As the tale goes, Berlitz was busy trying to teach French to a class of students and became frustrated with the traditional methods in practice. In his frustration, he came up with a new rule for the class — target language only! The teacher put on a dramatic cape (apparently that helped) and informed the class that this is how things are going to happen from now on. Forcing language immersion during class was the seed that would eventually grow into the Berlitz method for language learning.
The Man Knew How to Put on a Show
Instead of the then-common methods of memorizing rules by heart and practicing verb conjugation, Maximilian’s school was nothing short of a linguistic carnival. Students were encouraged to participate in different activities like they would at a magic show that relies on volunteers from the audience. Soon enough, the word of this extravaganza spread like wildfire, drawing more students hoping to learn a language and experience it in a new and exciting way. Among these people were also diplomats and business tycoons, looking to enhance their skills in a global environment. As Maximilian’s popularity, as well as his school, grew, they turned into a legacy of language learning that still lives on even today.
So, the next time you are having a hard time getting through foreign syntax, try to channel your inner Berlitz. You don’t really have to wear a cape. All you need is to find your commitment to the target language and remember that a little drama can go a long way.