Spanish Language school losses of up to 90%

The coronavirus crisis has impacted the language schools in Spain. The language schools association Fedele has predicted losses of up to 90 per cent of turnover for members in 2020 compared to 2019 that was a strong year of growth.

The cancellations and lockdown closures for much of the year including the peak season result into loss of revenue. According to Fedele, group cancellations have been massive, in all months, including summer, which is normally the strongest time of the year for the sector in Spain.

Language schools in Spain rely mostly on the European market with 76 per cent of Spanish language student weeks coming from European countries in 2019. Asian students were the next most important world region, with 11.5 per cent of student weeks.

Amongst the top five nationalities studying Spanish at Fedele members schools in Spain in 2019 were: Italian (26,031 students), German (21,486), French (11,475), British (11,015) and US (9,932). Numbers from Italy and France recorded a decrease in comparison to 2018 figures and German, UK and US student numbers increased in 2019. The other countries in the top ten from which the students are coming from were Austria, the Netherlands, China, Russia and Switzerland.

The annual member survey for 2019 also measured the recruitment channels and, agencies were recorded as accounting for 36 per cent of students and direct bookings via the internet come to 44 per cent for Fedele Spanish schools. Language tourism and the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language cannot be sustained with a national market since the students come from abroad and due to the lockdowns, the sector has had to face loss in bookings and revenue.

During the pandemic, Fedele showed support to its members by assistance, sharing information and also by developing a platform on their website with online courses offered by member schools.