WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: Wisconsin companies offering English language services may find growing interest.
As use of the English language becomes more prevalent worldwide, the need for English language classes is increasing, including in Africa.
Worldwide, the market for English classes is expected to triple during the current decade, from $11.4 billion in 2021 to $35.8 billion by 2030, according to The Brainy Insights, a market research firm based in India.
Online learning is likely to dominate, with options for personalized programs and the ability to track progress, the report says. It estimates a compound annual growth rate of 16.3% for online language classes over the time period.
In Africa alone, the market for English language learning is projected to rise from $2 billion in 2022 to $5.2 billion by 2028, according to the IMARC Group, a New York-based management consultant firm.
Fluency in English is gaining importance worldwide in career development and higher education. English is often the standard language used in business communications, and around the globe, more college-age students are choosing to study abroad in English-speaking countries. English is also the predominant language on the internet.
French is an official language in more than 20 countries in Africa—primarily in the western and central areas—while English is one of the official languages in about two dozen African countries.
One example of the growing interest in English can be seen in French-speaking Ivory Coast. In Abidjan, the largest city, only 4% of the population is fluent in English, but there are more than 200 schools and 1,000 tutors providing English language classes throughout the country.
WEDC’s representatives in Africa are available to help Wisconsin companies interested in offering educational services to businesses and residents there.
