English language education software is booming in Latin America. Thanks to a rise in mobile networks, making it easier to connect across the globe – the annual growth rate is 14.6%, according to Docebo. 

With 5.4 million English speakers in Latin America, according to Babbel – it’s clear to see that it’s becoming a staple part of their education that isn’t slowing down. Especially since it’s the fourth largest edtech market in the world, as reported by The Edvocate. 

With many schools closed due to COVID-19, it means that education technology is more important than ever. Not only does it improve learner engagement, but it’s also a low-cost tool that can be easily accessed from home. With over 415 million people with an online connection in Latin America, according to Market Scale – it highlights just how big this growing market could become. 

Schools in these countries are using the software more and more – demonstrated by the 12 million adults using online education, as reported by UNESCO. The biggest markets for e-learning? Schools in Brazil, businesses in Argentina, consumers in Chile and the government in Columbia, Venezuela and Mexico, according to Docebo. 

Why do so many people want to learn the English language?

There are countless reasons. Before coronavirus hit, Latin America saw a 55% surge in tourism from 2010 to 2018, according to Statista. Since 1.75 billion people in the world speak English, it makes it even more desirable for natives to know the language that many of their tourists speak.

It could also open doors to new opportunities. Global businesses, like Toyota and Nokia, have decided to make English their primary language. This doesn’t come as a surprise considering 1.5 billion people in the world are learning it, as ThoughtCo found. It’s a well-known fact that the prospects are endless for a bilingual graduate. 

During the pandemic, almost half of the schools in Brazil introduced edtech to their teaching, according to Labs News. 

In Columbia, the Foreign Languages Competencies Development Programme made English compulsory in all schools. Their goal is to become a bilingual country, as reported by ICEF Monitor. This is also the case in Peru, where undergraduates must complete five years learning a foreign language which would “preferably [be] English”, Lingo Media found.

It is clear that UK English language teaching technology companies should not miss this opportunity to enter the market in Latin America and the time is right now. 

Written by: Louisa Criscenti-Brown, Laura de Kock.