Maximilian Berlitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maximilian Berlitz
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Portrait of Maximilian Berlitz
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| Born |
David Berlizheimer
April 14, 1852 Mühringen, Württemberg (now Germany)
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| Died | April 6, 1921 (aged 68) New York City, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Maximilien Berlitz |
| Occupation | Linguist |
Maximilian Berlitz was a clever linguist. He started the famous Berlitz Language Schools. The very first school opened in 1878. It was in Providence, Rhode Island. He was born David Berlizheimer on April 14, 1852. He passed away on April 6, 1921.
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Maximilian Berlitz's Early Life
Maximilian Berlitz was born David Berlizheimer. His birthplace was Mühringen, Germany. He and his sister became orphans when they were young. They grew up with relatives who were teachers. This family lived in the Black Forest area.
When he was a teenager, Berlitz had to learn a trade. He chose to become a watchmaker. He worked as an apprentice for three years. Later, he moved to France. In 1872, he moved to the United States. He settled in Providence, Rhode Island.
How the Berlitz Method Began
Berlitz first taught French and German. He worked at Warner Polytechnic College. In 1878, he took over the school. The owner had left with all the money.
One day, Berlitz became very sick. He could not teach his French class. He quickly hired a new teacher, Nicholas Joly. Berlitz had only talked to Joly in French. He did not know Joly spoke no English.
Joly began teaching the class. He taught only in French. He used gestures and pointed to things. He also used his voice and face to show meaning. This is called language immersion.
The Success of a New Teaching Style
Berlitz returned to the class six weeks later. He was very surprised. His students had barely spoken French before. Now, they were talking quite well. Their pronunciation and grammar were also excellent.
Berlitz learned a lot from this experience. He used it to create the Berlitz Method. In this method, students speak only the new language. They use gestures and context to understand. They do not use translation. This helps them learn grammar and vocabulary faster.
Expanding Language Schools Worldwide
After his first success, Berlitz opened more schools. In 1880, he opened one in Boston. Soon, schools opened in New York and Washington, D.C.. He then opened schools all over the U.S. and in many other countries.
Between 1880 and 1900, he wrote about his ideas. He turned them into a clear system. He shared this method at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900.
In the 1900s, he traveled a lot. He even taught Kaiser Wilhelm II to speak English. Berlitz became very famous. He received awards from the King of Spain and the French government. He also got medals from many international events.
Maximilian Berlitz stayed active until he passed away. He was 68 years old. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City.
Berlitz's Lasting Impact
The Berlitz Method for learning languages is still used today. Many of his original books are still printed. Many schools continue to use his ideas. They help people learn new languages.
Maximilian Berlitz's grandson, Charles Berlitz, was also a linguist. He even became the CEO of Berlitz International for a time.
See also
In Spanish: Maximilian Berlitz para niños
- Berlitz International
