Bangkok English school flirts with Chinese market | Bangkok Post: learning

EDUCATION

A local English language institution is introducing long-distance online learning courses to China to tap into dramatically growing demand there for English teachers and courses in remote areas.

Fun Language International (Thailand) has been providing English teachers and curricula for children in both public and private schools in Greater Bangkok since 1997. Managing director Tongjai Tangsanga said it was cooperating with its partners in China - Leap School and an investor from Hong Kong - to develop interactive English classes via the internet.

It has set up a 10-million-baht studio in Shanghai where English-speaking teachers are filmed and broadcasts sent to schools in Shanghai's suburbs.

Mr Tongjai said China's education market had improved markedly after the country held the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Demand for English teachers and courses is rising significantly, and many international English teaching institutions are setting up shop in Beijing and Shanghai.

Suburban schools still lack native English teachers as most prefer to live near city centres. "Remote schools have no other alternatives in finding English teachers than online learning," he said.

However, the Chinese market is still unfamiliar with the company's style, which emphasises speaking and listening skill rather than tutoring for exams.

Many schools are hesitant to invest in facilities like projectors or high-speed internet connections, but Mr Tongjai insists online classes can save schools money in the long term.

He estimated Chinese schools might have to spend 9,000 yuan per month to hire a full-time foreign teacher, but online classes only cost 2,000 yuan per month.

Fun Language started broadcasting its courses to six schools in Shanghai suburbs last October. It aims to increase the number to 24 by the end of this year. China's industrial city of Tianjin and Vietnam are also in the company's business expansion plan.

While online classes can be broadcast to many destinations at the same time, Mr Tongjai admitted it was quite difficult to make young students simultaneously keep up with the lesson. "Online classes still rely on support from real teachers in the classroom to assure that all students will follow the lesson," he said.

Curriculum development is a focal point for the school as it believes it is essential for learning. It develops its own books, flashcards, and evaluation forms.

Fun Language operates two branches in the Phahon Yothin and Sukhumvit areas and is considering adding up to four more as well as opening franchised branches in the next few years.