OUR HERITAGE
Founded in 1901. Teaching English to the World Ever Since.
The Linguaphone Group was founded in London in 1901, making us one of the oldest and most established language training organisations in the world. For over 124 years, we have been developing and delivering English language programmes to learners on every continent.
Key milestones:
- 1901 — Linguaphone Group founded in London, pioneering recorded language courses.
- 1960s–1980s — Louis Alexander develops the Direct English method. His textbooks, including New Concept English and Follow Me, sell over 100 million copies.
- 1990s — Direct English franchise network launches across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- 2000s — Pingu’s English launches for young learners, now in 16+ countries.
- 2020s — Direct English Live launches, bringing live online classes to professionals globally.
- Today — Over 70,000 active students. 20+ countries. Two brands serving learners from preschool to professional fluency.
Our headquarters remain in London, at CI Tower, St. George’s Square, New Malden KT3 4HG.
OUR MISSION AND VALUES
Our Mission: Make English Training Accessible to Every Working Professional
We exist to give working adults the English skills they need to advance their careers, communicate with confidence, and compete in a global economy — delivered live, by real tutors, from anywhere.
What We Stand For
- Live, Human Teaching — Every class is led by a qualified, native English-speaking tutor. We do not use AI-generated lessons or pre-recorded videos as a substitute for live instruction.
- Workplace-First Content — Our curriculum is built for professionals. Lessons cover business communication, presentations, meetings, negotiations, and industry-specific vocabulary.
- Measurable Outcomes — Learners progress through CEFR-aligned levels (A1 to B2) with regular assessments. Employers get real-time performance data on their teams.
- Global Reach, Local Delivery — We operate in 20+ countries through a network of Master Franchise partners, combining global quality standards with local market understanding.
- 124 Years of Proof — The Linguaphone Group has been training language learners since 1901. This is not a startup experiment — it is a proven system refined over more than a century.
Why 70,000+ Learners Choose Direct English Live
One Platform. Built for Professionals and Their Employers.
Whether you are investing in your own career or building English capability across your workforce, Direct English Live delivers the outcomes that matter — fluency, confidence, and measurable progress.
For Individual Learners
- Live classes with qualified, native English-speaking tutors — not chatbots or AI-generated lessons
- Four course formats: Group (6 students max), 1-to-1, Flex (self-paced + live), and Fluency Intensive
- CEFR-aligned curriculum from A1 (Beginner) through B2 (Upper Intermediate)
- Flexible scheduling — attend classes from anywhere with internet access
- 14-day free trial on every course, no payment required to start
For Corporate Teams & HR Leaders
- Scalable English training for teams of any size, from 5 to 5,000+
- Real-time reporting dashboard: track attendance, progress, assessment scores, and CEFR advancement per employee
- Dedicated account manager for programme design and rollout
- Industry-specific vocabulary modules: oil and gas, healthcare, aviation, hospitality, finance
- Proven ROI: upskilled teams communicate better with global clients and partners
Learn, Grow, Connect, in English.
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Direct English Live in Numbers
Founded 1901
The Linguaphone Group has been teaching languages for over 124 years, from London to 20+ countries worldwide.
70,000+ Active Students
Professionals and corporate teams across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe are building their English skills with us right now.
100% Native-Speaking Tutors
Every Direct English Live tutor is a qualified, native English speaker with experience teaching professional adults online.
CEFR A1 to B2
Our curriculum is mapped to the internationally recognised Common European Framework of Reference, from Beginner to Upper Intermediate.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Trusted by Individuals, Employers, and Franchise Partners Worldwide
Direct English Live serves three distinct audiences. Individual learners enrol directly for career advancement and personal development. Corporate clients use our platform to train teams of 5 to 5,000+ employees, with dedicated account management and reporting. And our global network of Master Franchise partners delivers Direct English classroom training across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Our clients include professionals in oil and gas, healthcare, aviation, hospitality, and finance — industries where English communication is essential for safety, compliance, and commercial success.
HOW IT WORKS
See our Live English Training Solution in Action
Watch how our live classes, real tutors, and practical content help professionals succeed in English.
OUR GLOBAL NETWORK
Direct English in 20+ Countries
Direct English operates through a network of Master Franchise partners in over 20 countries. Our largest markets include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Malaysia, Thailand, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey — regions where demand for professional English skills is growing rapidly.
In each market, our franchise partners deliver Direct English classroom training locally, while Direct English Live extends our reach by offering live online classes to learners anywhere in the world. Together, this hybrid model means a learner in Riyadh can attend a group class at a local centre on Monday and join a live online session with a London-based tutor on Wednesday.
TEACH WITH DIRECT ENGLISH LIVE
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
The Louis Alexander Story
Louis Alexander (1932–2002) dedicated his life to making English language learning accessible and effective. His most famous works — New Concept English (1967) and Follow Me (a BBC television series watched by an estimated 500 million viewers) — transformed how English was taught around the world. His publications have sold over 100 million copies in dozens of languages.
For the Linguaphone Group, Alexander created the Direct English method: a structured, communicative approach that takes adult learners from beginner to professional fluency through a combination of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. This methodology remains the foundation of every Direct English Live course today.
Every day, a new journey begins with Skills for English
Learn more about Skills for English for work, study and settlement.
The Skills for English suite of proficiency tests are the result of a partnership between the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and PSI, a global testing provider, delivering 22 million assessments a year in over 160 countries.
The Linguaphone Group — Our Parent Company
The Linguaphone Group has operated since 1901 as one of the world’s leading language training providers. Today, the Group operates two principal brands: Direct English (English language training for professional adults and corporate teams) and Pingu’s English (award-winning English programmes for young learners aged 3–8, delivered in 16+ countries).
Our head offices are located at:
3rd Floor, CI Tower, St. George’s Square,
New Malden KT3 4HG
Greater London, United Kingdom