Talk:Berlitz Corporation

Berlitz translators in Gameboy?!

Yeah... I came across 2 Berlitz-produced "games" in gameboy not too long ago. Thought Wikipedia might like to know, because i don't know what else to do with it. --Kitetsu 03:43, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

The Ownership section needs some serious cleaning up and revamping. Whoever wrote it the first time didn't spell very well and came off as quite biased. I PC'd it up a bit, but someone who actually understands the history needs to fix it.

The article should discuss more recent history of the school and their problem in Japan with questionable contracts. http://generalunion.org/news2003.htm

BERLITZ CONTRACTS

At a recent round of Collective Bargaining with Berlitz, the General Union (of Japan) Berlitz Branch made one simple request; provide instructors with clear contracts with fixed schedules.

You'd think that a company with a reputation to maintain and a long history behind it wouldn't have to be asked to implement such a simple working practice but you'd be surprised. Berlitz's official response to the union's request was this:

Due to the unique nature of our business in this regard we find that it is difficult, at the moment, to offer contracts with fixed schedules. The Company however recognizes the concerns of our PL (pay per lesson) instructors and that this is therefore an issue that needs to be addressed. Although at this point we are unable to offer a fixed guarantee, we would like to:

Continue our best efforts to ensure that teachers receive enough lessons.

Continue organizing events to try to increase students.

Introduce a campaign that focuses on re-enrollment.

Human Resources will communicate more with its Language Centers to prevent overstaffing.

Human Resources will also look at the possibility of introducing new Full-time and Part-time contracts with fixed schedules.

The Berlitz Branch has, as the saying goes 'heard it all before' and would have preferred a simple 'NO' to this collection of regurgitated excuses. The General Union has been very patient with Berlitz on this matter and can only be patient for so long. Members are struggling to make ends meet simply because Berlitz does not want to do what all of the other major chain schools have done and provide a clear working contract. Our request to Berlitz is one of the most fundamental labor agreements made between an employer and employee. It is regarded as important enough that it is governed by both the Labour Standards and Part-time Workers' Law.

If you can answer yes to the following questions then you might want to consider a career at Berlitz.

Can you join a company that offers the possibility of some lessons at some time but with no guarantees?

Can you provide an availability of over 80 hours per week?

Can you work without a set working schedule?

Can you call your school every evening to check if you have work on the following day?

Berlitz Japan is the real diamond of Berlitz International and even more so for its parent company the Benesse Corporation who are funding the recent expansion of Berlitz's new Language Centers. It looks as if the General Union will have to involve the parent company.'

I think links to similar companies should be included at the bottom of the page if this article retains its commercial character. The criticism area should be expanded to include either links to other second language teaching methods or a discussion of "the Berlitz method" in relation to more "modern" approaches to language learning. In fact, Berlitz is nothing more than a "brand name" in second language learning. The argument can and should be made that Berlitz in not a method, but is a franchise like McDonald's. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Racaroc (talk • contribs) 16:43, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Time to Improve this article

The article sorely needs improvement.

This article is a great start for an unbiased and fair representation of the Berlitz global entity, but it still has a long way to go. The article needs to be cleaned up extensively by adding citations for the historical background and current statistics. As it stands, aside from some of the criticisms, it sounds mostly like a marketing piece. There is not a place in Wikipedia for scores of paragraphs of information with no credible sources and/or citations. In fact, almost every section should be tagged with a "needs citation" label. I removed some of the most blantant marketing jargon from one section that claimed that Berlitz is "most effective." That's a big no-no unless a scientific unbiased study states such. But the other sections are entirely positive about the history, and therefore should have citations. As it stands, most of it sounds like it came straight from the Berlitz website. That is not appropriate for Wikipedia. Computer1200 (talk) 15:24, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Travel Guides

Shouldn't there be a chapter abuout Berlitz travel guides? Most people -at least in my country that is- will know Berlitz mainly for their low-budget travel guides, since every bookstore in every city sells them and many will be unaware of the existence of language schools by the same name. --Quarconi (talk) 01:41, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

         Berlitz Byki!  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Yankees317 (talk • contribs) 02:07, 13 November 2010 (UTC) 

Berlitz International - company name change

As of November 2010 Berlitz International changed its name to Berlitz Corporation. What is the procedure in either editing / moving the Berlitz International title that was already created for this page?

BCJ Aoyama (talk) 15:46, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

I have done it for you. "Berlitz International" is left as a redirect to this title. JohnCD (talk) 16:24, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Proposed Improvements to the Berlitz Article : New history content + structural edits

1. Reorganize Key Content

- Move *The Berlitz Method* section to a more prominent position (currently under “Subsidiaries”), as it highlights Berlitz’s unique instructional approach.

2. Content Updates and Additions

- Update outdated information under Financial Results and CEO. - Add a new section titled **Ownership** to consolidate info on company acquisitions and parent companies. - Create a new section for **Berlitz Proficiency Levels**, ideally with a graphic. - Add a **Notable Alumni** section (IMPORTANT: ONLY IF The person has publicly mentioned their connection to Berlitz -in interviews, biographies, articles, social media, etc.You only list their name and profession, without making claims about their endorsement or achievements being tied to Berlitz.You’re not using their photo, quote, or personal story unless you have permission. Include note like: “These individuals have been publicly mentioned as past students. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.” Every person listed in a "notable alumni" section must have a wikilink.

FROM WIKIPEDIA “If you are a new Wikipedia editor please remember that the purpose of a list of notable alumni is always to provide useful information about a school and its alumni, and never to promote either an individual or a school. Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of personal biographies or a tool for self-promotion.” “A person should be included as a "notable alumna or alumnus" if the person would qualify for an article in his or her own right under Wikipedia: Notability (people)/WP:BIO. By implication, this means that each person listed in a "notable alumni" or "notable alumnae" section should have a wikilink, either red or blue.”

UPDATED HISTORY SECTION

1878: The First Berlitz Language School

Maximilian D. Berlitz, born in Germany in 1852 to a family of educators and mathematicians, emigrated to the United States in 1870 and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island. By 1877, he had moved to Providence, where he taught languages at Bryant and Stratton National Business College, later known as Warner’s Polytechnic Business College. In 1878, Berlitz founded the first Berlitz School of Languages in Providence. Fluent in several languages, he sought alternatives to the traditional grammar-translation method and began developing a more interactive, immersion-based approach to language instruction.

1880s: The Berlitz Method

In the early days of the school, Maximilian Berlitz pioneered the Berlitz Method, emphasizing conversational learning and active student participation. He hired a French-speaking assistant, which revealed that immersion techniques were more effective than traditional grammar translation methods. This approach revolutionized language learning by focusing on immersion from the first day of instruction.

1880s-1900s: Expansion to Europe and Beyond

As demand soared, new locations soon appeared across the United States, and by the late 1880s, Berlitz had taken its first steps abroad, opening schools in Berlin, Paris, and London. By the end of the 19th century, the company was running close to 100 schools worldwide.In the 1950s, Berlitz opened its first Latin American language center in Mexico, followed by locations in Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. In 1966, Berlitz reached Asia, starting with a language center in Tokyo.

World War I & II: Women’s Leadership

During both World Wars, Berlitz faced challenges, including the loss of male leadership due to military service. As a result, many of the schools were managed by women, who played a critical role in maintaining operations and ensuring that lessons continued despite the global turmoil.

1960s: The Golden Era of Expansion

In the 1960s, Berlitz entered a new phase of growth, driven by increased international travel and the rising demand for English language learning, particularly due to the political and cultural influence of the United States. During this period, Charles Berlitz, the grandson of Maximilian Berlitz, developed the Berlitz Travel Guides, which became highly popular and helped further establish the company’s global brand.

1964: Introduction of Berlitz Total Immersion

Berlitz launched its most intensive language learning program, Berlitz Total Immersion, in 1964. This program was designed to offer complete linguistic and cultural immersion through customized lessons that took place in real-life settings, such as lunch with a teacher or participation in parallel sessions with two instructors.

1980s: The Berlitz Foundation and Children’s Language Learning

In the 1980s, Berlitz expanded its offerings to include language education for children, launching Berlitz Kids in 1982. Berlitz also began supporting social causes, with the Berlitz Foundation established in 2006 to support children’s education and rights, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa.

2000s: Adapting to the Digital Age

With the advent of personal computers, Berlitz embraced digital education by introducing online courses in the early 2000s. These courses mirrored traditional classroom lessons but offered the convenience of remote learning. Berlitz also allowed students to record lessons for easy revision.

Berlitz Today

As of today, Berlitz operates in over 70 countries, offering language instruction for various audiences, including professionals, children, and travelers. The company integrates its traditional immersion-based teaching approach with digital technologies to adapt to evolving educational needs. Manarrwiki (talk) 11:23, 3 June 2025 (UTC)