Belgrade, Serbia – February 20, 2012 – The European head office of the US based PRODIREKT education group today announced that its Verbalists (Verbalisti) Communication and Language Network exceeded an important 10,000-member mark for its Facebook business page. PRODIREKT recently celebrated another landmark when its Verbalists YouTube media channel logged 100,000 video views, the barrier that was broken only two years after the channel inception, with the video views connected mostly to the communication network authored content. The success of the Verbalists social media came after some regional media already proclaimed network Verbalists in 2011 as the fastest growing language education network in Southeast Europe. 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
Belgrade, Serbia – January 25, 2012 – English UK, which works with the British Council to operate the English in Britain Accreditation Scheme, recognized PRODIREKT as an educational consultancy that successfully promoted the UK as an English language teaching destination in the past years. The recognition and accreditation of PRODIREKT as an English UK Partner Agency came as a result of PRODIREKT’s strictly adhering to the principles of the agency code of conduct, while providing language education services since 2002. 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.
Verbalisti young learners leaving for Malta
“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.
Bonn, Germany – November 21, 2011 – German ICEF today formally recognized PRODIREKT as the Agency and educational consultancy that met ICEF’s strict standard of quality. PRODIREKT successfully completed a quality assurance screen during 2011 and has become a preferred Agency of ICEF.
The Verbalists language education group and network awarded a two-week language course at KINGS COLLEGES to Ivan Radenov, the first Macedonian Pop Idol.
Ivan Radenov, the First Macedonian Pop Idol, meets his idol in London – Glenn Hughes of the great Deep Purple!
Our partners, Kings Colleges, made sure that Ivan’s stay in London turns memorable in many ways, so The First Macedonian Idol played in the Band of Kings, attended famous theater performances, and even met Glenn Hughes, one of the members of his favorite band Deep Purple.
Skopje, Macedonia – October 28, 2011 – PRODIREKT, a US based company that owns one of the fastest growing educational social networks – Verbalists, awarded a two-week language course at KINGS COLLEGES for the first Macedonian Pop Idol.
