It looks like more people will be able to speak Chinese in the next year—but neither I or you will be one of them. ChinesePod, the online learning platform, is offering the people of Ireland free Chinese lessons until May 2010. The reason? According to Springwise, the recession has hit the Irish economy harder than most.
Co-founded by Irishman Ken Carroll, ChinesePod aims to provide a way for the Irish to communicate and do business with the world’s leading economy, which could help with Ireland’s economic recovery. Irish residents can get daily access to lessons, podcasts, online discussion boards, and Skype-based teaching from Mandarin experts, among other learning tools.
What's Driving This Trend
- Language Learning
- ChinesePod offering free Chinese lessons to Irish residents highlights the potential opportunities and growth in the language learning industry.
- Online Learning Platforms
- ChinesePod's online platform offering various tools for language learning underscores the growth and potential market for online education.
- Economic Recovery Initiatives
- ChinesePod's initiative to aid in Ireland's economic recovery through language learning highlights the potential for innovative solutions to aid in economic recovery.
Who This Affects Most
- Education
- The growth of online learning platforms for language acquisition, such as ChinesePod, highlights the potential disruption in the education industry.
- Language Learning
- The growth and increasing demand for language learning, especially in the online space, offers potential opportunities for businesses in this industry.
- Economic Development
- The use of language learning as a tool for economic development offers potential on raising the value of language-learning services in the market.
