Educators and agents speak their mind about how they see the education industry in the months ahead
The most important factors for South American students when planning for study in the USA
INTEAD has released a special edition report on emerging markets as part of their research series in collaboration with FPP EDU Media (Know Your Neighborhood, which aims to help US educators with recruiting and marketing in specific regions). The report is based on survey responses gathered over June and July last year from more than 12,000 respondents in Latin America and Africa. We will focus our article on South America given the fact that most students being advised and/or recruited by PRODIREKT and our Verbalists Language Network come from Mexico and Brazil. READ MORE
German ICEF Features Prodirekt Language Learning Poll and Analysis
The leading education organization in Europe ICEF features Prodirekt poll and analysis, relating to young language learners, in the Monitor.
Job opportunities have been shrinking with the global crisis and employers are becoming more selective; therefore, speaking English as a second language has become more important. The Verbalists survey points out that in developing economies the need for language education among young learners is perceived as a must, and that parents are willing to continue spending on their children’s education abroad even in harsh economic times. READ MORE
Young learners language education tops family budget priorities, shows the Verbalists survey in Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia
Belgrade, Serbia – March 6, 2012 – PRODIREKT and its Verbalists Language Network today announced the results of the poll designed to discover how parents in the Balkans feel about the language education of their children. The visitors of the Verbalisti Facebook page were asked “How important is it for your children to learn a foreign language in the native speaking country?”. The survey was conducted in four countries – Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, during two time intervals – from 21st November to 21st December 2011, and from January 6 to February 6, 2012, and it generated enormous interest among the Verbalisti network fans and other Facebook members alike. The poll reached 247,757 people, while 1,566 participants cast their vote, with 1,226 of them saying that they would send their children to learn a foreign language in a native speaking country, regardless of the family budget constraints. READ MORE
The Junior Language Market is Seeing a Boom
Dan Thomas, in his article for The Pie, an online publication for educators, looks at the factors behind the growth of the junior language market. Major players in language education have seen sustained, sometimes rapid, growth in recruitment over the last few years; opening new campuses and increasing the diversification of nationalities on their courses.
Driving the phenomenon is an ever more competitive job market in which having a second language – and having studied abroad – gives young people a distinct advantage. For this reason, say educators, during a period of economic austerity in many language learning markets, parents are willing to continue spending on their children’s education while making savings on their own.
It appears the demand is not only for English courses. In Europe, Italy’s Linguaviva says it sees around 5% growth each year for its Italian classes, while Germany’s DID says interest from students wanting to learn German in Berlin has increased.
Another success story is Azurlingua in the South of France, which has expanded from 20-30 students to 2,500 students in the last 10 years. Director, Jean Luc Librati, says the French market is coming to maturity, with junior courses becoming an educational rite of passage for language learners and being taken more seriously.
“Let’s say that 10 years ago, it was more like ‘let’s have fun and at the same time learn French’. Now it’s more ‘let’s learn French and at the same time we’ll have fun’,” says Libreti.
Students on Azurlingua’s courses now take exams recognised not only by the French Government, but also the Common European Framework of Reference for languages which enables qualifications to be recognised across European borders.
“This new way to recognise language ability is becoming better and better known,” says Libreti. “It is also proof that the market is reaching a more professional level.”
While the need for a second language is certainly the fuel for growth, other factors are catalysts. One such is visa conditions. As junior courses are generally short haul and rarely year round, students can usually enter a country far more simply than adults, often on a tourist visa.
Increased awareness of junior products is also helping providers. The relationships an educator builds with his agents around the world helps drive “word of mouth” marketing. Consumers have also changed their attitudes. Teachers and students are more knowledgeable about the courses available and parents are more trusting and willing to allow their children to travel.
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