Assimil (often stylised as ASSiMiL) is a French company, founded by
Alphonse Chérel in 1929. It creates and publishes
foreign language
A foreign language is a language that is not an official language of, nor typically spoken in, a specific country. Native speakers from that country usually need to acquire it through conscious learning, such as through language lessons at schoo ...
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
A foreign language is a language that is not an official language of, nor typically spoken in, a specific country. Native speakers from that country usually need to acquire it through conscious learning, such as through language lessons at schoo ...
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
sentences
The ''Sentences'' (. ) is a compendium of Christian theology written by Peter Lombard around 1150. It was the most important religious textbook of the Middle Ages.
Background
The sentence genre emerged from works like Prosper of Aquitaine's ...
, for an organic learning of the
grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of rules for how a natural language is structured, as demonstrated by its speakers or writers. Grammar rules may concern the use of clauses, phrases, and words. The term may also refer to the study of such rul ...
. 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 ''
assimilate'' 'to incorporate or absorb knowledge into the mind'.
The company publishes several different series:
*"Learn" series, which teach to an
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
idiosyncrasies
An idiosyncrasy is a unique feature of something. The term is often used to express peculiarity.
Etymology
The term "idiosyncrasy" originates from Greek ', "a peculiar temperament, habit of body" (from ', "one's own", ', "with" and ', "blend ...
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 largely or exclusively carries a Literal and figurative language, figurative or non-literal meaning (linguistic), meaning, rather than making any literal sense. Categorized as formulaic speech, formulaic ...
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 refers to the processes and practices of teaching a second language, second or foreign language. Its study reflects interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary approaches, usually including some applied linguistics. There are f ...
*
List of Language Self-Study Programs
External links
*
A Gift in Any Languageat npr.org
at publishinghistory.com - historical lists and images
{{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