The good news is that hundreds of millions of people in China want to learn English, the less great outcome is they like to study at home, on-line, with enrolments increasing from five to 25m in 2008-17.

New research for peak ELICOS provider, English Australia accordingly counsels caution; “providers need to recognise the result-oriented approach and consider developing a product that delivers short-term results, thereby avoiding a long tail of dissatisfied customers who could undermine the benefits of a standalone ELICOS program.”

Even so, China now provides 24 per cent, around 45 000, of English-language learners in Australia.

The federally-funded research was undertaken by Austrian researchers, StudentMarketing and a comprehensive resource it is too.