Centre | Berlitz Language

This accidental innovation became the cornerstone of the company’s global success, transforming Berlitz from a single school into one of the world’s most recognized language education brands.

Founded in 1878 in Providence, Rhode Island, by Maximilian D. Berlitz, the Berlitz Language Centre has a storied origin. Berlitz, a German immigrant and language teacher, hired a French instructor named Nicolas Joly. When Joly fell ill, Berlitz asked a native French-speaking employee to take over the class, instructing him to speak only French and use gestures, pictures, and context to convey meaning—no translation, no grammar drills. The students learned faster and retained more than those in traditional classes. Thus, the was born. berlitz language centre

1. History and Founding Philosophy