Wall Street Institute

Wall Street Institute is among the largest providers of English language instruction to adults and corporate clients around the world. WSI was established in 1972 in Italy by Italian Luigi Tiziano Peccenini. The company has provided instruction to over 2 million students^{[citation needed]} and currently operates over 400 centers in 28 countries in North Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Its international offices are in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States, Barcelona, and Luxembourg. Wall Street Institute was privately held by the global private equity firm The Carlyle Group, which acquired the company in 2005. Citi Private Equity ("CPE") is also an investor in the company. In 2010 it was bought by Pearson Education for $92 million in cash. It is not related in any way to Wall Street in New York City.

The WSI "Blended Learning Method" is a technique of teaching that combines multimedia lessons, small classes, native teachers and fun activities. Through the Blended Learning Method, students listen, read, write, speak, and practice English. Students and staff at WSI centers around the world only speak English while in the center.

Wall Street Institute's curriculum is aligned to the Common European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR), according to a study undertaken with the support of the University of Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages Examination group (CESOL).

History

The first Wall Street Institute centers opened in Italy in 1972, and within two years 24 new centers opened across Italy. In 1983, Wall Street Institute expanded outside of Italy, and by the late 1980s Wall Street Institute was well established across Europe. Expansion continued through the early 1990s, when centers were opened in Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela. Beginning in the late 1990s, Wall Street Institute expanded into the Middle East and then to Asia, which has grown to be a significant part of the business.

In 1997, Wall Street Institute was purchased by Sylvan Learning Systems. In 2005, Wall Street Institute was acquired by the global private equity firm The Carlyle Group. In 2010, Wall Street Institute was acquired by Pearson PLC.

Wall Street Instiute's global corporate offices are located in Barcelona, Spain, and Baltimore, MD, USA.

By country

Wall Street Institute has centers in: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, People's Republic of China, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela.

Argentina

In Buenos Aires, Wall Street Institute centers are in Palermo, Belgrano, Caballito, Tribunales, Villa del Parque, and Microcentro (4). In Buenos Aires Province, centers are in Olivos, Martinez, and Lomas de Zamora.

Chile

In Chile, Wall Street Institute is the biggest English institute in the country, and has 17 centers. From Antofagasta, down through Puerto Montt.

Czech Republic

Wall Street Institute has one center in Prague, Czech Republic.

Ecuador

Wall Street Institute has had centers in Ecuador since 1999. The current 12 centers include: Ambato, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Ibarra, La Prensa, Los Chillos, Orellana, Santo Domingo, Tumbaco, Villaflora.

France

Wall Street Institute operates 67 centers in France, of which 13 are in and around Paris, 7 are affiliated to Wall Street Paris. The rest of the centers operate under distinct management.

Germany

There are twenty-seven Wall Street Institute centers in Germany, five in Berlin, four in Munich and the rest in Bonn, Bremen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Wiesbaden.

Hong Kong

Wall Street Institute currently has 5 education centres in Hong Kong, in Causeway Bay, Jordan, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Shatin. All centres (except the newly relocated Jordan centre as of Feb 2009) have been registered with the Education Bureau of Hong Kong.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, Wall Street Institute has centers in Jakarta at Ratu Plaza (opened February 2007), La Piazza (opened January 2008), Pondok Indah Mall and Central Park.

Israel

In Israel there are centers in :Raanana, Kiryat Bialik, Beer Sheva, Rishon Letzion, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ashdod, Rehovot, Petah - Tikva and Jerusalem.]

Italy

Wall Street Institute was first established in Italy where there are currently 95 centers.

Morocco

Wall Street Institute has one center located in Casablanca.

Mexico

Wall Street Institute has 2 centers in Mexico, 1 in Mexico City and another one in Monterrey City.

Nicaragua

Wall Street Institute opened its first center in Central America in Managua, Nicaragua in May 2010.

People's Republic of China

Wall Street Institute has 47 centers in the People's Republic of China in Beijing (13), Shanghai (11), Shenzhen (7), Guangzhou (8), Tianjin (3), Qingdao (2), and Hangzhou (2).

Russia

Wall Street Institute has 7 centers in Moscow.

Saudi Arabia

Wall Street Institute - Saudi Arabia has 9 centers, located in Jeddah, Riyadh, Khobar, Medina, Abha, and Taif.

South Korea

See also: Hagwon

In South Korea there are Wall Street Institute centers in Seoul (Samseong, Jongno, Gwanghwamun, Shinchon, Gangnam and Yeouido) plus Busan (Seomyeon) and Daegu.

Spain

There are currently 8 Wall Street Institute branches in Spain, in Madrid, Cartagena, Toledo and Valencia.

Switzerland

There are 9 Wall Street Institute centers in Switzerland: Biel/Bienne, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneva, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lausanne, Lugano, Montreux, Neuchâtel, St. Gallen.

Taiwan

See also: Buxiban

Wall Street Institute operates five centers in Taiwan, including three in the capital Taipei (one at Xinyi District, one near Taipei Main Station and one in Banqiao District in New Taipei City), one in Hsinchu City, and one in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Thailand

In Thailand, Wall Street Institute first opened in Silom in Bangkok in July 2003. Centers in Sukhumvit, Lad Prao, Siam, and Pin Kloa followed. In 2008, the Sukhumvit branch was moved to Seacon Square, in January 2011 Fashion Island Branch opened and in March 2011 Future park Rangsit branch will open. There are also 8 Corporate centres located inside the offices of large companies such as TOT, KPMG and SCB.

Turkey

There are thirteen centers in Turkey: six in Istanbul (at Bakirkoy, Caddebostan, Sisli, Erenkoy, Taksim and Beylikduzu, there are three centres in Ankara (Kizilay, Cayyolu and Ostim), Izmir, Izmit, Eskisehir, and Bursa.

Venezuela

There are eleven Wall Street Institute centers operating in Venezuela, six of which are located in Caracas. There are also centers in Maracaibo, Puerto La Cruz, Puerto Ordaz and Valencia.

External links

• Wall Street Institute - International