The world is getting smaller, our similarities to each other starting to overcome our differences from each other, and one of those similarities is our common knowledge of English.
The latest figures seem to show that two billion people are either boning up on the language or know it already; it is becoming the language of international commerce, and the sooner much of the world grasps this notion, and the language, the sooner markets will open up, and companies will benefit.
In mid-May, came word that Toronto-based Lingo Media Corporation (TSX-Venture:LM)(OTCBB:LMDCF) a leader in online and print-based English language learning solutions, announced the acquisition of U.K.-based ELL Technologies Limited, thus enabling LMCDF to expand its product line and extend its reach into 10 new countries, driving increased revenues.
ELL is an international leader in the development, production and marketing of innovative and proprietary English language instruction solutions distributed in 11 markets, including China, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
LMDCF is a leader in developing and marketing English language learning products and services to support learners of English throughout various life stages — from classroom to boardroom. The company leverages its proven programs along with innovative learning technologies to deliver a comprehensive offering that includes publishing (through its Lingo Learning division), interactive learning (Speak2Me) and training and assessment (called Parlo Corporation).
It all started about a decade ago, with the Lingo Learning publishing business, which to date has co-published more than 350 million products for Kindergarten through Grade 12 students, college and university students and young professionals throughout China, the world’s largest English-language learning market.
From 2001 to 2006, LMDCF focused on co-publishing English language learning programs for China’s primary school market. Today, Lingo Media along with its partner, People’s Education Press, command a 60% market share in this segment.
Speak2Me is an innovative online service combining advanced speech recognition technology, a virtual teacher and social networking for learning and practicing spoken English. In April 2008, the website known as www.speak2me.cn launched in a closed beta across 50 select universities in Beijing and Shanghai. In December 2008, the company launched Version 1.0 which has since attracted more than one million registered users.
Parlo's training and assessment offering provides a series of targeted lesson modules to help employees, civil servants and professionals develop their spoken English skills as needed to remain competitive in the workplace and global economy.
Best of all -- in plain English -- this stock is a bargain, resting near the bottom of a 52-week trading range that saw its highest price of the year at $1.51 last January, and hit rock bottom for the year this year at 51 cents. The announcement of the ELL buy perked up volume to about 25,000 shares on May 13 and the price to around 64 cents. Bearing in mind the worlds the company has recently conquered, the price could be destined to turn around.
