Émile B. De Sauzé

Émile Bials De Sauzé (Tours, December 7, 1878 – July 10, 1964) was a French born naturalized-American language educator who developed the Cleveland Plan for teaching foreign languages. He is credited with originating the conversational method where students hear a teacher speak a word, then write it, then speak it. This method replaced the older method of simply memorizing words and grammar.

Born in Tours, France, he graduated from the University of Poitiers in 1900. He married Melanie Phillips of Pennsylvania in 1903 and came to the U.S. in 1905. They had one daughter, Marcelle. He received his doctorate degree from Saint Joseph College in 1907.

His career included heading the modern language department at Temple University and the French Department at the University of Pennsylvania prior to 1918. While teaching at both schools he became affiliated with the Sigma Pi chapters at each and was initiated into the organization. He then became director of foreign languages for the Cleveland Public Schools in Ohio from 1918 to 1949.

De Sauzé took the time to train the district's teachers in his method which contributed to its success.

In 1922, he began one of the few foreign language programs in elementary schools in the United States.

While in Ohio he also taught at Western Reserve University.