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The Linguaphone Group, the world’s leading provider of distance and classroom language training solutions, is delighted to announce the appointment of its first Master Licensees for the Group’s character-based pre-school English language course, Pingu’s English.
babyArt, a specialist in developing young children’s creativity through art will open their first Pingu’s English School in Shanghai in May. Launched in 2005, babyArt has 35 franchises across China.
Rutledge Joblink, a renowned international recruitment and training provider, have secured the rights to Pingu’s English in Bangladesh, Philippines and Poland and in June 2008 will launch their first Pingu’s English School in Manila.
Meanwhile, our partners in Portugal, American Station, who have been running adult language training centres with the Linguaphone Group since 2001, will seek to roll out Pingu’s English to a network of kindergarten leaders throughout Portugal in the coming year.
Pingu’s English is a three-level course and teaches English to young children of 3-7+ years and is based on the popular children’s character, Pingu™. The course has been inspired by the mischievous and loveable penguin and his everyday adventures in the South Pole. Designed for use within Pingu’s English Schools and also by parents and children at home, this innovative course is exclusive to the Linguaphone Group.
Derek Price, Chief Operations Officer of the Linguaphone Group said
“Pingu’s English is a fun and imaginative way for young children to learn English and gain a better start in life. We are delighted to welcome these first new partners to the Linguaphone Group, and look forward to working with them and others in the months and years ahead.”
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For all media enquiries, please contact
Charlotte Pritchard, Linguaphone Group E-mail: sarah.cole@linguaphonegroup.com Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 6115 Mobile: +44 (0)7799 723 218
Notes to editors
1. The Linguaphone Group is the world’s leading provider of distance and classroom-based language learning solutions, which operate under the internationally recognised Linguaphone, Direct English and Pingu’s English brand names. With over 100 years of experience, the Group has an extensive network of 200 learning centres in 25 countries. The Group also has a wide-ranging portfolio of self-study products sold in over 60 countries to more than seven million customers. For more information visit linguaphonegroup.com
2. The Linguaphone Group is part of the IFA. For more information on licensing opportunities in other territories please email pingusenglish@linguaphonegroup.com.
3. Pingu’s English offers an array of creative learning activities and exercises using high quality, multimedia materials and teaching resources. Developed by leading English language and child education specialists, each student will receive a course pack consisting of DVDs, study books, song and story books with CDs plus interactive online learning materials. Students will also receive an activity pack which includes supplementary materials such as character figurines, colouring materials and friezes. There are also extensive teaching resources to assist teachers with each child’s learning and development.
4. The Linguaphone Group has licensed the popular children’s character Pingu from HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT’s portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Fifi and the Flowertots™in North America and Japan and acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company’s library of classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalogue of more than 1,500 hours of young children’s programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS SproutSM, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers. In 2007, HIT and Chellomedia, the European content division of Liberty Global, Inc and its subsidiary ChelloZone, announced a joint venture to launch and distribute JimJam, an international pre-school TV channel (excludes the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.