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Contents - August 2010

Special report
Multiple choice
Demand for language proficiency exams is holding firm in the face of economic hardship, as proof of language skills becomes more important. Jane Vernon Smith explores some of the many options in this sector of the language travel market.

Market Report
Malta turns corner
Maltese English language schools experienced a downturn in student weeks in 2009 owing to the global economic crisis, but things seem to be picking up again in 2010. Gillian Evans reports.

City Focus
Auckland’s natural diversity
Beautiful beaches, fantastic natural scenery and a thriving nightlife are all elements that go towards making Auckland a desirable place to visit and study. Jane Vernon Smith finds out what’s on offer.


World cup mania

By the time you read this issue, the Fifa football World Cup should be in full swing and you will have joined one of two camps – those that are watching their team religiously and writing the scores down in their official Fifa wall charts and those counting the seconds until the event ends and the world gets back to normal. When it comes to football it seems that there are no half measures.

Whichever camp you belong to, an international event of such magnitude as the World Cup cannot help but inspire awe as almost noone in the whole world remains untouched by it. So, while I will be taking the opportunity to visit central London for a bit of shopping during key England games – the only time central London is completely deserted of people and traffic – I will still be supporting the opportunity this event offers for increased communication across country boundaries and the possibilities this affords our industry.

Sports in particular offer a way for international education providers to increase their profiles and connect with potential students in a fun and interesting way. I was struck this month by the work of Education New Zealand in India, who organised a Twenty20 cricket tournament for high school students in India (page 14) and am interested by the fact that students seem to increasingly demand provision in sports and other activities during their language courses abroad. The opening of two new language school campuses in the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia (page 7) supports this trend as students increasingly look at how they are going to fill their spare time when choosing where to study.

And in the UK, the opening of an artificial surf reef in Bournemouth affords many opportunities for language schools in the area to incorporate this attraction into their courses. One language school that is opening a new campus in the area intends to start offering English and surfing courses in the future (page 39). An increased focus on the location of a language school, rather than what courses it offers, is perhaps a trend that is here to stay and one that schools can make the most of. IH Cape Town students have already been involved in a number of World Cup related events and this will surely continue at language schools throughout South Africa during the competition. I only hope that students learn a bit more English than “That referee needs glasses” during their time overseas!


Opinion
Industry regulation

News
New UK vetting system phased in
Language school boomtown in Australia
Five schools join the ranks of QE
New UK chain born
NZ school liable for pay-out
Fourth US school for EC

Agency News
Agents re-register for Australian e-visa access
ICEF North America shows growth
Hello Aussie expands into Europe

Agency Survey
Japan struggles
A difficult economic climate has led to a reassessment by some Japanese language travel agencies of their businesses to specialise in certain market sectors in order to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Feedback
South Africa
Agent usage was up among the students who took part in our Feedback survey of South Africa this year. Satisfaction levels were high and the percentage of African students in schools had decreased.

Spotlight
Spanish plus culture
Learning about Spanish culture on a language plus course gives students the chance to truly immerse themselves in the unfamiliar. Attracting a varied clientele, these courses come in various guises including Spanish plus sherry tasting and Spanish plus cinema. Nicola Hancox finds out more.

Course Guide
Executive language courses in Canada
Business clients are often more exacting than traditional students of language schools and have a range of requirements regarding Internet access and high standards of accommodation that need to be met. Below are a selection of language schools in Canada that market themselves particularly to these types of clients, and provide instruction in either French or English, or both.

Status
USA 2009


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