The pie charts illustrate four methods used by international students to apply for English courses in three nations – Australia, the United States, and Canada – in the years 2009 and 2010.
Overall, it is clear that the arrival had the largest share initially, while the Internet was the most popular in the following period.
Focusing on Australia first. In 2009, all four methods had almost similar standings, with booking with agents leading the mix with the chart of 27, followed closely by arrival at 26. The Internet and other sectors accounted for 24% and 23%, respectively. By 2010, the Internet booking became the largest share at 39%, ahead of arrival at 30% and others at 20%. The proportions for the method involving agents fell to 11%.
Regarding proportions for the United States. By 2009, the Internet and the “other” had comparable figures at 26%, while arrival and an agent’s bookings mirrored the trend, sharing similar standings at 24%. Notably, there were no noticeable changes in 2010, agency bookings topped the chart at 28%, trailed by the Internet at 25% and the arrival at 24%, while other sectors experienced a negligible decline to 23%.
Canada somewhat bucked the trend by demonstrating a marked difference between the methods. In 2009, arrival dominated the chart at 45, whereas the Internet and agency bookings accounted for 27% and 22%, respectively. The other sector remained as the smallest category at 6%. By 2010, an agent booking became the largest category at 35%, distantly trailing behind the arrival and the Internet at 25% and 22%, accordingly. The other sector, despite the noticeable growth, remained at the bottom of the chart with 18% of the total.