Page 23 - ELG1805 May Issue 457

EU special .
SPECIAL FEATURE

effective, people soon lose interest. English by Numbers
There is increased interest from learners and
employers in purposed and tailored study to
meet specific subject and sector needs.
These trends have an impact on traditional The British Council’s latest report, looking at the
institution-based teaching and, critically, on
technology in language learning. future of English language learning in seven European
Perhaps with technology more than any countries, reveals some interesting statistics, Irena
other area, the report seems to indicate that
we are at the beginning of a journey – without Barker writes
a clear winning formula yet, but nonetheless
with hugely exciting developments happening
right now. he British Council’s latest report
The Future Demand for English in
We see technology evolving as we speak. T
We are witnessing the developing use of Europe: 2025 and Beyond reveals
AI as a tool in language assessment, and a range of statistics and potential
teaching programmes are already learning trends for seven key countries, including
and improving themselves to identify learners’ France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal,
difficulties in real time. Romania and Spain.
Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu and MOOC Most strikingly, perhaps, is the report’s
providers have combined audiences in the tens prediction that the numbers of potential
of millions. Their offers provide the immediacy, English learners across those countries is set
flexibility and attractiveness required to match to drop by 8.8 per cent between 2015 and
the needs so coveted by this generation. 2025 (from 172.5 million to 157.2 million).
This varies by country from a 16 per cent
There is still much to understand in how fall in Romania to a 5.8 per cent drop in
learners use these materials. We know the
Finding the percentage of people completing Apps and Italy. The demand from different age groups are principally to blame. But it is also wanting to learn or improve their English.
is also expected to fall: the 15 - 34 age
MOOCs are relatively low. The providers
group is expected to drop by 15.7 per cent
In the 55+ age group, numbers are
down to government initiatives to improve
understand this only too well and are working
winning formula on their products to encourage the staying and the 35-54 age group will plunge by 16.4 English in state schools. expected to rise from 73.2 million to 74
per cent.
million. To view the full report go to https://
The study does, however, report an
power of the users.
Some of their own experts acknowledge
increase in the number of older people
The report claims ‘demographic changes’
tinyurl.com/yc4tognn
the challenge to satisfy demand for learners
at the higher language levels. Here, future
Chris Brandwood takes a closer look at the opportunities may see more sophisticated
implications of a major report into the future of screen-to-screen tuition elements.
Perhaps ultimately AI will be capable
English learning in Europe enough to carry out natural interactions with
learners, even at the highest levels.
Crucially, as one of the respondents to our
he British Council recently that has clearly increased, and an ‘exposure survey accurately pointed out, it is not just
commissioned its Europe: 2025 report to language’ factor (via the internet) that has about technology but also about finding the
aware that more had changed in the intensified beyond measure. right pedagogy for these new tools.
TELT market in the last few years than Consequently, the ‘motivation’ factor for Additionally, for good or for bad, we now
in perhaps a couple of decades before that. young people has increased, spurred on by live in the world of Big Data. Digital companies
Brexit was the trigger for us to have a closer the attractiveness, speed and accessibility of can record, understand and adapt to every
look, but was by no means the only reason. the technology, which can satisfy needs for learner interaction, and have a quantity of
There are certain points in time that put knowledge, certification, social interaction – data on learning and achievement previously
changes in ELT demand and provision into and, most importantly, fun. unimagined.
perspective. In 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall They are already (obviously) using the data
saw a huge rise in demand for private- and to develop their own offer, and in some cases
public-sector provision of ELT across central have published their findings.
and Eastern Europe. There are certain This data is an incredible resource. Let’s
Some changes have no such milestone. In hope technology companies and linguists will
countries such as Spain for example, gradual points in time come together to carry out and publish more
changes in educational systems are seeing the which put changes research and try better to understand how
quantity and quality of language provision people learn languages effectively.
rising. in ELT demand This could be a revolution in our
Across Europe, the report shows, demand and provision into understanding of the learning process, and a
for English in education and at work is milestone in meeting the demand for English.
intensifying, despite a largely declining perspective See page 7 and page 23 (opposite) for more.
demographic.
It will only become apparent with time n Chris Brandwood is
whether we look back at Brexit as a milestone director of English for
for English demand generally, or specifically for The report highlights that demand for ELT the British Council’s
demand to come to learn English in the UK. will follow today’s consumer trends. Learners EU region and has
The most striking changes today, however, want personalised solutions to suit individual held teaching and
concern the nature of the demand. needs and lifestyles, and flexibility in terms of management positions
There is a ‘need’ factor (via time, place and intensity of study. for the BC across the
internationalisation of work and education) Value for money is key; if courses are not continent.
22 May 2018 editorial@elgazette.com 23