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Last summer, Stacy from Russia went to St. Mary’s College to study English with LAL, our partner educator. She attended the Classic Summer School and came back very happy, with lots of stories to tell. Stacy was particularly impressed with three important things… check out her video testimonial below to find out what! READ MORE
Media and education group PRODIREKT, with its Verbalists Language Network, will be responsible for rolling out innovative online entertainment-based approach to English-language learners in seven markets.
Paris, France – June 6, 2012 – Entertainment Learning, the European leading education-via-entertainment company, announced its partnership with PRODIREKT LLC (www.prodirektgroup.com) today for the launch of its flagship language learning service, English Attack!, (www.english-attack.com) in Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and in Bulgaria.
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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
Belgrade, Serbia — February 3, 2012 — PRODIREKT LLC today said it will join forces with Paris based Entertainment Learning SAS to market its flagship language learning service, English Attack!, in the Balkans. The exclusive regional partnership agreement is expected to be announced shortly. READ MORE
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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