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Mexico's firm footing
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The future looks good for Mexican agents this year, with a growing economy contributing to greater demand for language travel programmes. Canada remains by far the most popular study destination, according to our survey.
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The total number of students placed by the 12 agencies in our survey was 1,513
Individual agencies placed between 13 and 483 students on courses per year
Average business growth was 39 per cent in the last 12 months
The average length of stay for Mexican students was 11 weeks
Overall, 80 per cent of Mexican students stayed in host family accommodation when studying overseas
Four agencies charged their clients a handling fee of between US$100 and US$150
On average, agencies worked with 22 schools in the last 12 months
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| Top destinations |
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Most popular courses |
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1. Canada 65%
2. UK 14%
3. France 11%
4. Australia 3%
5. Ireland 2%
6. Germany 6%
7. USA 1%
Other 2.5%
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1. Intensive 35%
2. General 24%
3. Summer vacation 23%
4. Lang. + work. 7%
5. Junior 4%
5. Business lang. 4%
7. Academic prep. 2%
Other 1%
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| Reasons for language travel |
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Average percentage agency business
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1. Studies at home 57%
3. Current work 11%
2. Future work 22%
4. Studies overseas 5%
Other 5%
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1. Lang. progs 83%
2. Work & Travel 7%
3. Internships 5%
4. Higher education 2%
Other 3%
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How do agencies recruit students?
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How do agencies find new schools to represent? |
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1. Word of mouth 33%
2. Website 26%
3. Adverts in press 12%
4. Seminars to students 10%
5. Mail shots 5%
Other 14%
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1. Fairs/expos 24%
2. Workshops 21%
3. LTM/ETM 18%
4. Internet 17%
5. Other press 5%
Other 15%
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| Percentage of agents who recognised each of the following organisations |
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Australia
Acpet 8%
English Australia 50%
Canada
Capls 83%
CLC 67%
France
Souffle 42%
L'Office 17%
Unosel 8%
FLE 17%
Ireland
MEI~Relsa 8%
IEAI 17%
Italy
Asils 33%
Italian in Italy 25%
Malta
Feltom 17%
New Zealand
Ed. NZ 17%
English NZ 17%
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Portugal
Aeple 0%
Spain
Fedele 25%
UK
ABLS 8%
English UK 50%
British Council 83%
Europe
Eaquals 33%
USA
AAIEP 25%
Accet 33%
CEA 8%
UCIEP 8%
International
Ialc 48%
Quality English 25%
Tandem 8%
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Market growth
Football’s World Cup was cited as having a detrimental effect on business last year, according to one particpant in this year’s Agency Survey on Mexico. However, eight of the remaining 11 agencies in our survey said that business had increased over the last 12 months, by between five and 200 per cent, while one agency said that business had stayed static and two did not reply. Overall, average business grew by 39 per cent across all the agencies in our survey and individuals noted an improving economy and increased marketing as reasons for this. This positive result echoes our last survey of Mexican agencies, when average business growth reached 26 per cent for 2004 (see Language Travel Magazine, March 2005, pages 14-15).
Language and destination trends
Despite the USA’s close proximity to Mexico, the number of Mexican students travelling to the USA for a study abroad trip decreased in this year’s survey, from an average of 10 per cent of clients to just one per cent of total students. Instead, the UK increased its popularity among Mexican students and was chosen by 14 per cent of students instead of five per cent previously. Meanwhile, Canada remained the most popular destination with 65 per cent of students choosing this country as their study destination. Two agencies reported that they only dealt with the Canadian market – highlighting the importance of this country for agency business in Mexico. French was the second most requested language among language learners, behind English, while German, Italian and Chinese were all requested by agency clients last year.
Student and course trends
Very few students were learning a language for further study overseas, with just five per cent of clients intending to go on to further studies after their programme. Instead the majority of students, 57 per cent, were learning a language for their studies at home, in contrast with our previous survey, when 39 per cent of students were learning a language for their home studies and 26 per cent for future overseas study opportunities. With academic considerations not high among our agencies’ clients, academic preparation and foundation programmes were not popular with students and instead intensive, general and summer language programmes were those most often undertaken.
Agency business
There is not much diversity when it comes to business activities among agents in Mexico, with all agencies indicating that the language travel sector made up the greatest proportion of their business – 83 per cent of total agency clients were sent on language programmes in 2006. The next most popular study abroad sector for Mexican agents was work and travel, with seven per cent of clients requesting these types of programmes, while the remaining students were sent overseas for internships or higher education purposes.
Looking ahead
The mood among agents was very much upbeat this year. Reasons for the optimism include a strengthening Mexican economy and political stability under a new president, while a number of agencies revealed ambitious expansion plans involving new offices, new staff and better marketing.
Mexican agents named a range of language programmes they work with, including, in Austria: Actilingua, Vienna; In Belgium: CCL from Louvain University, Brussels. In Canada: Algonquin College, Ottawa, ONT; Bodwell College, Vancouver, BC; CLC, various; English Language Centers, Vancouver, BC; English School of Canada, Toronto, ONT; ESH Language Centre, Toronto, ONT; George Brown College, Toronto, ONT; Global Village, various; Inlingua, Vancouver, BC; King George International College, Vancouver, BC; Pacific Language Institute, various; School District # 64, Salt Spring Island, BC; Study English in Canada Inc., Toronto, ONT; Vancouver English Centre, Vancouver, BC; Vancouver International College of English, Vancouver, BC; Victoria International Student Program, Victoria, BC; YMCA, Montreal, QB. In France: Accord, Paris; Institut de Touraine, Tours; Ecole des Roches, various. In Ireland: The Language Centre of Ireland, Dublin. In Switzerland: Leysin American School, Leysin. In the UK: Aspect, various; BABSSCo Summer School Programmes, various; LSI, London; Studio Cambridge, Cambridge; University of East Anglia, Norwich. In the USA: Monteverde Academy, Monteverde, FL. Worldwide: Geos.
Thank you to the following agencies for taking part in this survey: Ceilidh Tours/Viajes Bojorquez Mexico, Class Consulting, Contacto Estidiantiles Canadienses & Europeos, Creatur Mayorista de Viajes, Edu Lynks (IAE Global Mexico), Hola Canada, Intereducacion, Kino Travel, Nacel Mexico, Universitas Travel & Study, Universo Educativo, Via Lenguas SC Mexico Estudios en el Extranjero.
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Contact any advertiser in the this issue now
The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.
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