Page 19 - ELG1911 Nov Issue 467

El•Gazette 467.qxp_El•Gazette 467 23/10/2019 13:10 Page 19

SPECIAL FEATURE

PIXABAY current political and economic situation in
the UK is keeping the currency exchange
rates low, capturing interest among potential
students.
The UK has the potential to perform well
in upcoming years and attract an increased
number of language students. However, the
omnipresent trend of shorter course duration
may keep the student weeks figure flat or
subject to minor fluctuations.

Patrik Pavlacic is
the Head of
Research at
Bonard, an
Non-traditional destinations like the Philippines (Manila City, shown here) are independent market
becoming popular research provider.
Over the past 10
evaluating where growth opportunities lie and Strategy aims to increase the value of years, he has
where to invest, but are also becoming more education exports to £35 billion per year and produced or
aware of the need to identify internal the number of higher education students contributed to over
efficiencies. Over the last 12 months, we have hosted in the UK to 600,000 per year by 65 bespoke
observed that the sector is attracting external 2030. The UK government has recently research projects
capital, and Mergers and Acquisitions and reinstated the two-year work visa for for governments, associations, investors and
individual educational institutions. Patrik is the
school-agency partnerships are increasing, but international graduates from British author of more than 20 industry publications,
the sector is also experiencing closures. universities. where he focuses on global and regional trends
The UK still attracts the largest number of With these initiatives, the government is in international education. Patrik is a member
English language learners (just above trying to boost the image of the UK in times of ESOMAR World Research.
580,000). Its new International Education of uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Also, the

Homestay horrors cities, I checked the websites of well-
established language schools in five capital UNSPLASH
cities. The differences, set out in the box
Melanie Butler counts the below, were staggering.
cost of underpaying host What explains the huge variations? In the
US, agents may be taking large commissions
families on accommodation fees. But EU tax law
makes that financially unviable. So why do
homestays cost twice as much in Paris as in
he Chinese agent was upset. Two Dublin, Madrid and London?
teenage clients who wanted to share In London, at least, the rates on offer have
a room had been told to share a bed. barely changed in 20 years. In 1999, a
TTheir host, “a lorry driver”, said this homestay family in Zone 1 could expect to
was “normal in England”. earn £150 a week. The same seems to be true week and 48 hours of out-of-school child
The homestay in question was in of Dublin, while in Madrid the costs of local care.
Orpington, a town described by Wikipedia as homestays seem to have gone down slightly Fail to pay the market price and city
“at the south-eastern edge of London's urban since my own daughter stayed in one 15 years homestays will disappear. It is already
sprawl.” The school, an hour away by train, ago. happening: half the schools I checked in
refused to take responsibility. The results are predictable: there appear to Dublin no longer offered homestay
Historically, homestay has been the main be no city-centre homestays on offer in either accommodation.
form of accommodation for language students Dublin or Madrid. In London, the nearest I
abroad. However, with a housing crisis in found were in Zone 2, an area not dissimilar Homestay accommodation
major cities across the world, families with a to Brooklyn.
room to rent are in a seller’s market. As a result, many students have been London: Zone1: £200 a week, Zone 2:
An expatriate website quotes average room shifted to student residences, where they pay £180
rental in Beijing at £50, yet a Beijing language much higher fees and buy their own food. New York: Manhattan: £550, Brooklyn:
school charges adult students £180 per week Others have to travel in and out from distant £370 (Cost of living compared to London:
for homestay. suburbs, like Orpington. +18 per cent)
But in some cities, host families are not Neither is a solution for students aged Paris: £420 (Cost of Living: - 15 per cent)
Madrid: Suburbs: £180 (Cost of Living: -
benefitting from the housing shortage. The under 16, the only growth segment in English 38 per cent)
average cost of a room in a shared house in language travel. Young learners need good Dublin: Suburbs: £170 (Cost of living: -
London’s Zone 1 is £250 a week, while host families, but good host families cost 8 per cent)
student residences start at £300. But a host more.
family in the area can expect just £200, For the £420 on offer in Paris, in London it Prices based on half board, shared
including half-board, or slightly more if the would be possible to attract professional bathroom

student room is en suite. middle-class families living in professional Cost of living figures compared to
What is going on? To find the rates on offer middle class areas just outside the centre. It London from www.expatistan.com
for similar accommodation in other capital is, after all a fair rate for a room, 16 meals a
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