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Assimil

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ASSiMiL
Founded1929
FounderAlphonse Chérel
Country of originFrance
Headquarters locationParis
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsForeign language courses
Official websiteassimil.com

Assimil (often stylised as ASSiMiL) is a French company, founded by Alphonse Chérel 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. 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, 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 idioms;
  • 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

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English base

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For the English reader, the following languages are available: (as of October 2022)

Language Learn (A2) With Ease Using (Advanced) Business Phrasebook For Kids Dictionary
Arabic No Yes No No No No No
Chinese (Mandarin) No Yes No No Yes No No
Dutch No Yes No No No No No
French Yes Yes Yes No longer in print Yes Yes No
German No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Hebrew No Yes No No No No No
Hungarian No Yes No No No No No
Italian No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Japanese No Yes No No Yes No No
Korean No Yes No No Yes No No
Portuguese (Brazilian) No Yes No No No No No
Russian No Yes No No Yes No No
Spanish (Cuban) No No No No Yes No No
Spanish (Spain) Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Yiddish No Yes No No No No No

See also

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