Does Berlitz work for learning to speak, read, and write French?

Question

This is just for fun. Just want to do something to make life more interesting.

Answer 1

I have heard a lot of positve things about Berlitz. They require excellence in their teachers and I think that you would enjoy it and learn a lot.

Answer 2

Definitely not. The Berlitz method is based on the audio-lingual language learning theory, which was proven ineffective several decades ago! Berlitz still uses it because this method allows them to create and SELL their own materials (books and CDs), and the language teachers don't require any actual training. I DARE you to go to a Berlitz school and ask what kind of training your teacher will have. There are two kinds of good language teachers:

1. Teachers who are native speakers of the language being taught and who have a degree in Education
2. Teachers who are fluent speakers of the language being taught (but not native speakers), who are fluent in YOUR first language and who obtained a degree in this language at university

Chances are that Berlitz will tell you that their teacher "has a degree" (they won't specify the subject) and "did the excellent Berlitz training course". Depending on the school, that could be as a little as a two-hour orientation that told them where the coffee machines and bathrooms were.

The best way to study a language is through the Continuing Education department of your local university. They usually offer evening and/or lunch-hour classes for people wanting to learn a language in an environment that is fun but still professional.

Answer 3

Many language learning programs make wonderful promises but it takes dedication and lots of discipline in order to learn a language on your own. If you haven't learned a language before that will also make it more difficult as well.

Answer 4

nothing actually works for French !

Answer 5

no