Languages Canada has released its recent report, which analyzes international student enrolment trends in English and French language programs in 2021. The report is about a survey of 189 members of Languages Canada conducted by the research firm- Bonard. The majority of participating schools were from Ontario (40%), followed by Quebec (22%) and British Columbia (20%).

Last year, around 57,400 students were enrolled in Canadian language programs- 52,750 in English and 4,670 in French, which represents only a third of the number enlisted before the covid-19 pandemic and a decrease of 12.4% from 2020. Languages Canada commented that this is the lowest number since the association began accumulating student data via the annual members' survey conducted in 2008, noting that the 2021 figures indicate the entire story of the impact of border restrictions, costly testing, provincial lockdowns, visa delays, classroom capacity limits, and quarantine requirements.

However, the drop in 2021 was not as strong as in 2020 (56%). Many schools modified their course delivery models in 2021. In the past year, half (51%) of the total number of student weeks delivered by Canadian language schools were provided online only (27% in Canada and 24% outside Canada), and the other 20% were carried via a blended/hybrid model. Down from 33% in 2020, only 29% of student weeks happened in-person.

Student weeks dropped by 6.1% to 721,470, a more undersized decline proximate to the dip in student numbers and comparable to the decrease in weeks registered in 2020 (-49%). International students remained in Canada for language studies for a more extended time in 2021 than in 2020. Lengthier average remains were at least in part interconnected to students selecting to make their travel to Canada worth it while giving all the travel and quarantine requirements that existed for a long time last year.

Today, Colombia (6,247 students) and Japan (6,414 students) are immense contributors to registration for Canadian language schools. The number of Colombian students has grown by 72.6%, and the number of Japanese students has risen by 15.4%. Colombia and Japan defeated China and Brazil in terms of enrolments. Brazilian numbers fell by 44%, and Chinese student enrolments dropped by 32% in 2021. Chile is currently contributing many more students (+95.1%) to Canadian language programs.

If we talk about junior segments, in 2019, junior students contributed 13% to the total language-training market of Canada. The share of junior students fell to 3% in 2021 after dropping to 5% in 2020.

Around 58% of schools stated that visa processing times and student difficulties to acquire visas were their considerable concern in 2021. Languages Canada says that visa challenges depict an issue that has resumed into 2022 and is presently the factor affecting the sectoral recovery.

Regardless of ongoing challenges, Languages Canada says that the language education sector arose in 2021 with optimism for recovery and growth into 2022. With most border impediments and quarantine conditions facilitated by fall 2021, Canada stands as a top choice destination for English and French language students. Canada has also achieved a global market share in the English Language Tavel sector over the pandemic, from 12% in 2019 to 17% in 2020, and encountered a more nominal decrease in student numbers in 2021 than competitor destinations such as Australia, the UK, and Ireland.