17 January 2008, London – HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners, and the Linguaphone Group, the world’s leading provider of distance and classroom language training solutions, have forged a strategic alliance to license the popular children’s character Pingu for the delivery of the Group’s global pre-school English language training programme.

Pingu’s English is the Linguaphone Group’s first character-based pre-school English language course. It is a three-level course and teaches English to young children of 3-7+ years. In addition, Pingu’s English also provides valuable lessons in socialization, numeracy and computer skills. The course is based on the hugely popular television character, Pingu, the mischievous but loveable penguin, and centres on his true-to-life everyday adventures in the South Pole.

Designed for use within Pingu’s English centres and also by parents and children at home, this innovative course will launch in Asia and Europe over the coming months.

Pingu’s English offers an array of creative learning activities and exercises using high quality, multimedia materials and teaching resources. Developed by leading English language and child education specialists, each student will receive a course pack consisting of DVDs, study books, song and story books with CDs plus interactive online learning materials.  Students will also receive an activity pack which includes supplementary materials such as character figurines, colouring materials and friezes. There are also extensive teaching resources to assist teachers with each child’s learning and development.

Katie Price, Senior Director of Global Publishing at HIT Entertainment commented, “We are delighted to be working with the Linguaphone Group on this exciting and innovative licensing opportunity.  Pingu is a character that many children around the world can relate to and offers children a fun and fresh way to learn English. The Linguaphone Group also offers a unique opportunity to build relationships with our target audience and create global brand awareness through a highly respected educational platform”.

Clive Sawkins, Chief Executive Officer of the Linguaphone Group said, “The ability to speak, read and write English fluently is a fundamental life skill and will give children a good foundation for their continuing education and future careers. This course will enhance the English language competency of all young children around the world and significantly improve the potential for global communication in the coming generations.”