For many years London has claimed to be one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, and according to the latest census it just might be. A full third of London residents were born outside of England — that is nearly two and half million people! This number alone puts London in the running with New York City and Toronto for the title of "the World’s Most Diverse City".
And just like New York City and Toronto, London residents have had to accommodate foreign religions, cultures, and most importantly languages. Altogether, the people of London are fluent in over 300 languages.
But as any immigrant will tell you, there comes a time when you must assimilate, at least to some degree. Probably the first thing that new arrivals focus on is learning the local language. This is especially true if they have children whom they intend to raise in an English-speaking country. That is one reason why English Courses in London is so popular.
Another is that English is by all intents and purposes a lingua franca. Though it is only the most popular language in the world by a small amount, it is by far the most popular language for foreigners to study. According to recent numbers, more than seven-hundred million people study English as a second language. That is nearly twice the number of people that speak it as a first language — three-hundred and seventy-five million.
As you might expect with its large immigrant population and the general popularity of the language, English courses in London are customarily booked and ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers are in high demand. The most common English course for foreigners is general English, although it is possible to sign up for specialised classes for subjects like English for law, business, or marketing.