Leading Online English Start-Up in China to Expand

The biggest online education start-up in China will soon offer new courses and technologically advanced services. VIPKID [VEE-AHY-PEE-kid] currently provides one-on-one online English lessons to Chinese children who are five to 12 years old. Tutors of VIPKID are mostly from North America, and the company’s lessons are based on the North American elementary curriculum. In a press conference, VIPKID announced that it will be launching “V+.” It is a new set of lessons aligned with the K-12 program, which will cover students from kindergarten to 12th grade. As part of its expansion, the company will also launch an AI software that analyzes students’ learning behavior for a more personalized learning experience. VIPKID’s AI will be made in partnership with Microsoft China. VIPKID co-founder and CEO Cindy Mi said in an interview that she sees the Internet as an important platform for education. Through this platform, Mi envisions a future with a “global classroom” where students all over the world can communicate effectively. VIPKID’s expansion comes amid the continuous growth of China’s online education sector. Chinese parents are taking advantage of technology to give their children access to higher quality education, especially in terms of learning the English language. There has been a rise in the demand for online English classes in China because some parents are unsatisfied with the teaching style used in traditional classrooms. These parents believe that impeccable English skills are necessary to prepare their children for the country’s increasing globalization and that the best way to gain these skills is by learning directly from native speakers through online schools.