Assimil (often stylised as ASSiMiL) is a French company, founded by
Alphonse Chérel Alphonse may refer to:
* Alphonse (given name)
* Alphonse (surname)
* Alphonse Atoll, one of two atolls in the Seychelles' Alphonse Group
See also
*Alphons
*Alfonso (disambiguation) Alfonso (and variants Alphonso, Afonso, Alphons, and Alphonse) i ...
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 languages 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
sentences, for an organic learning of the
grammar
In linguistics, the grammar of a natural language is its set of structure, structural constraints on speakers' or writers' composition of clause (linguistics), clauses, phrases, and words. The term can also refer to the study of such constraint ...
. 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 word "Assimil" comes from ''
assimilate'' "incorporate or absorb knowledge into the mind".
The company publishes several different series:
*"Learn" series, which teach to an
A2 level
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...
;
*"With Ease" series, which teach basic rules of grammar and a vocabulary of 2000–3000 words;
*"Perfectionnement" ("Using") series, which teaches more advanced
idiosyncrasies and idioms of the target language;
*Business series, which focuses on vocabulary related to international business;
*Idioms series, which teaches common
idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...
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: ()
See also
*
Language education
Language education – the process and practice of teaching a second or foreign language – is primarily a branch of applied linguistics, but can be an interdisciplinary field. There are four main learning categories for language education: ...
*
List of Language Self-Study Programs
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
External links
*
A Gift in Any Language
{{Authority control
Language education publishing companies
Publishing companies of France
Publishing companies established in 1929
1929 establishments in France
Second-language acquisition
Language-teaching methodology