Learning a new language is one of the most popular resolutions of 2018. In most professional instances, learning a new language is quite critical to remaining universally competitive. While the resolve is commendable, the task demands a big influx of time and energy. Thankfully, picking up a new language via online language learning courses allows for this activity to be conducted from the comfort of the learner’s own home.
No wonder, the market for online language learning is booming at an exponential rate. What translated to ‘just a hobby’ a little while ago, is now a crucial component in the 21st century trendsetters’ arsenal of professional skills.
Is virtual learning or online language learning effective?
Digitization has made its way into almost every aspect of our lives, therefore, the virtual space is no longer viewed as a challenging medium for teaching and learning. Online learning has emerged as one of the most viable methods of reaching the maximum number of students without being hindered by geographical limitations.
The trend of choosing online language learning courses is exceptionally strong in emerging economies, where the cost factor plays an important role in such decisions. Also, as most of the courses available today can be heavily customized, students find it easier to interact with the online platform and take tests at their own convenience.
What makes virtual learning so effective is the simplicity with which an entire course is designed. Vendors like Pearson ELT and Berlitz Languages, for example, take extra efforts to develop courses that enable non-native speakers to really get to the heart of learning the new language. Overall, these courses are designed in such a way as to truly capture the interest and attention of the students, and negate the issue of not having a teacher’s physical presence.
Read: How Language Training Centers are helping Multilingual Ambitions in India, and Spawning Big Business
Bridging geographical barriers with language learning
Emerging economies are a major market for online learning courses. Particularly, in the case of language learning, countries like China and India have traditionally recorded the maximum enrollments for such online courses. In China, where a clear majority of the population has very little exposure to foreign languages like English and Spanish, the demand for these courses is incredibly high.
At the same time, countries like the UK, France, and Germany, are also turning to these courses as a means to grow linguistically and reach various other parts of the globe. For instance, post-Brexit, UK has become one of the most language deficient nations. This explains the sudden surge in demand for language courses in this region.
Today, online language learning is a full-fledged market around the globe. Though still highly-fragmented, the encouraging signs include that aside from global languages like English, Spanish and Japanese, regional languages like Mandarin and Arabic have also gained wide popularity. It is clear that language learning is one of the most happening segments in the education industry and it is set for massive growth in the next five years.
In Summation- Online language learning, ripe for investment?
In a world that is shrinking fast, gaining linguistic proficiency in another language is often the key to a whole new world of professional opportunities and personal accomplishments. And, a vast demographic inclusive of students, professionals, millennials, expats and those driven by wanderlust, have rendered this a very lucrative market, particularly through the next decade.
