Pierre Jean Capretz (30 January 1925 – 2 April 2014) was a French educator and writer, noted for his audio-visual methods for teaching

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

. A graduate of the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

, he began teaching French in 1949 at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

and joined the faculty of

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the w ...

in 1956, eventually becoming Director of the Language Laboratory and then Director of the Language Development Studio. He is best known as the creator and host of the PBS television series ''

French in Action ''French in Action'' is a French language course, developed by Professor Pierre Capretz of Yale University. The course includes workbooks, textbooks, and a 52-episode television series. The television series — the best-known aspect of the cours ...

''. He received an honorary Doctor of Letters from

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont. The college currently enrolls 2,858 undergraduates from all 5 ...

in August 1993. He died in 2014 at the age of 89.French in Action creator Pierre Capretz dies
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List of degrees received

*Doctorate, University of Paris, 1950 *Law Degree, University of Paris, 1947 *Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa, Middlebury College, 1993

References

*Hodge, Deborah (Autumn 1993). ''Introduction'', "A Banner Year for the Language Schools", Middlebury Magazine.

External links

University of Florida Language Learning Center
Yale University faculty University of Florida faculty 1925 births 2014 deaths French male writers {{France-writer-stub