Você fala Português?

English and Spanish are no longer enough. German, Italian, French, Portuguese and Mandarinare are being heard with increasing frequency, as the country becomes a global business hub, where multinationals from around the globe are gathered, orchestrating business with the whole planet.

This is good business for language schools, a sector where not only local companies operate in, but also international franchises. The growing clientele is fed not only by Panamanians who need to master other languages to access better jobs, but also executives of foreign companies operating in the country and their families.

An article in Capital.com.pa highlights some of the language schools that are operating there, as well as official institutions offering instruction courses to increase their self-managed funds.

Source: Capital.com.pa

More on this topic

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English language mastery has long been an essential condition for working in a multinational company. Now, a third language is becoming a requisite.

In Europe, the consolidation of the Common Market and the lack of border for human resources has made trilingual the norm and not the exception.

Costa Rica: Language Schools Rebound Again

May 2012

After suffering a sharp drop in demand over the last two years, there has been an increase in enrollment in courses for learning English.

Enrollment in private schools teaching English and other languages fell heavily since 2009, but now the situation seems to be improving.

Brazilian Language Franchise Opens in Guatemala

April 2010

Language school “Wizard” will open its first center in the country in May; it operates over 2.000 branches around the world.

It teaches English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese and Italian, and is planning to expand to Central America from Guatemala.

Luisa Siqueira, director of Wizard International, told newspaper Prensalibre.com that they plan to open three centers in 2010, as they see great potential in language teaching.

Costa Rica: French Language Center Grows

July 2009

Alianza Francesa will inaugurate on August 2009, its new facility in Heredia, with capacity for 200 students.

Being that the facility is located close to industrial areas, the language teaching company will focus on corporate clients.

In an article in Elfinancierocr.com, the sub director of Alianza Francesa, Nathalie Le Coutour, states: "There is a lot of potential in the province [Heredia], no only for teaching the French language, but also because the population is eager for cultural activities. We want to export a small piece of France to Heredia"