View source for Assimil

{{Short description|Publisher of foreign language courses}}
{{No footnotes|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name         = ASSiMiL
| image        = [[File:Assimil.png|250px]]
| caption      = 
| parent       = 
| status       = 
| traded_as    = 
| predecessor  = 
| founded      = 1929
| founder      = Alphonse Chérel 
| successor    = 
| country      = France
| headquarters = Paris
| distribution = 
| keypeople    = 
| publications = Books
| topics       = [[Foreign language]] courses
| genre        = 
| imprints     = 
| revenue      = 
| owner        = 
| numemployees = 
| website      = {{URL|http://assimil.com}}
}}
'''Assimil''' (often stylised as '''ASSiMiL''') is a French company, founded by [[Alphonse Chérel]] in 1929. It creates and publishes [[foreign language]] courses, which began with their first book ''Anglais sans peine'' (''English Without Toil''). Since then, the company has expanded into numerous other languages and continues to publish today.

Their method for teaching [[foreign language]]s is through listening to recordings, and the reading of a book with the text that you are listening to: one side native language, one side foreign language. This method is focused on learning whole [[Sentence (linguistics)|sentences]], for an organic learning of the [[grammar]]. It begins with a long passive phase of only reading and listening, and eventually adds active exercises. Most books contain around 100 lessons, with the active phase starting on Lesson 50. The name ''Assimil'' comes from ''[[:wikt:assimilate#English|assimilate]]'' 'to incorporate or absorb knowledge into the mind'.

The company publishes several different series:
*"Learn" series, which teach to an [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages#Common reference levels|A2 level]];
*"With Ease" series (Originally "Without Toil"), which teach basic rules of grammar up to a CEFR B2 level and a vocabulary of 2000–3000 words;
*"Perfectionnement" ("Using") series, which teaches more advanced [[Idiosyncrasy|idiosyncrasies]] and idioms of the target language;
*Business series, which focuses on vocabulary related to international business;
*Idioms series, which teaches common [[idiom]]s;
*Phrasebooks, which serve as a travel companion;
*Slang series, for contemporary slang usage;
*"Assimemor" ("My First Words") series, which is meant to introduce a language to young children

==Languages==
===English base===
For the English reader, the following languages are available ({{as of|2022|10|lc=on}}):

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; width: auto; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! Language
! Learn (A2)
! With Ease
! Using (Advanced)
! Business
! Phrasebook
! For Kids
! Dictionary
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Standard Chinese|Chinese (Mandarin)]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[French language|French]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{maybe|No longer in print}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[German language|German]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Italian language|Italian]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Korean language|Korean]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Brazilian Portuguese|Portuguese (Brazilian)]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Russian language|Russian]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Cuban Spanish|Spanish (Cuban)]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Peninsular Spanish|Spanish (Spain)]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|}

==See also==
*[[Language education]]
*[[List of Language Self-Study Programs]]

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.assimil.com/}}
*[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5021582 A Gift in Any Language] at npr.org
* [https://www.publishinghistory.com/assimil.html Assimil courses] at publishinghistory.com - historical lists and images

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Language education publishing companies]]
[[Category:Publishing companies of France]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1929]]
[[Category:1929 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Second-language acquisition]]
[[Category:Language-teaching methodology]]