Name

Iran Language Institute

Legal name

کانون زبان ایران

Website

https://ili.ir

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Language Tutoring (Conversation & Fluency) (EDANACAA), World Languages Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAJ)

Keywords

• Language education services
• Foreign language training
• Online language courses
• Corporate language training
• International language exams

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Language Course Tuition: Semester-based tuition fees charged per student per term for all language courses (English, German, Spanish, French, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Turkish). Tuition rates are set annually and communicated through learning centers.
2. Entry/Registration Fees: One-time entry fees charged upon registration, as communicated by each learning center.
3. E-Learning Semester Tuition: Online/electronic learning semester tuition, with specific disclosed rate of 9,510,000 Rials per term in year 1404, and commercial correspondence course at 1,050,000 Rials.
4. Out-of-Center (برون کانونی) Corporate Training: Customized in-house language training programs for organizations, schools, and government agencies, provided at client premises through contractual agreements.
5. Educational Products and Publications: Sale of textbooks, workbooks, supplementary materials, dictionaries, and educational publications produced by ILI's publishing division.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Iran Language Institute (مؤسسه زبان ایران) is a long-established private language education provider in Iran, founded in 1925 and historically associated with the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoun). It delivers Persian-language and foreign-language courses (10 languages including English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese) to children, teenagers, and adults, both in-person across provincial branches and online via LMS/Adobe Connect classrooms, and operates a dedicated Out-of-Center division providing contract-based language training to government bodies, schools, universities, and private companies.

Product overview

Iran Language Institute (ILI, کانون زبان ایران) operates as a large-scale, multi-departmental language education institution offering face-to-face, online, and blended instruction. The core portfolio spans 10 living world languages — English, German, Spanish, French, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Italian, Turkish, and Chinese — across three age segments (children, teenagers, adults) with standardized CEFR-aligned curricula. Product portfolio includes: (1) Core language courses for each of the 10 languages at multiple proficiency levels; (2) Specialized purpose language courses including IELTS preparation, Business English, Tourism English, and Academic English; (3) ACT conversation courses; (4) Virtual e-learning via LMS (Adobe Connect live + SCORM self-paced); (5) In-house published textbooks and supplementary materials (ACT series, Sada al-Hayat Arabic series, Bustan al-Arabiya, ILI examination prep series, Test Time, story readers); (6) ILI Podcasts; (7) Off-site corporate training (برون‌کانونی); (8) International exam administration (IELTS, TOEFL, DELF/DALF, DELE, TORFL, CELI); (9) Staff and teacher professional development (TTC). The institute also provides educational technology (animation, games, applications) and research services through dedicated deputies for education and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Foreign Language Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million+ language learners trained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carl Duisberg Institute (موسسه کارل دویسبرگ آلمان)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German language department of ILI began its activities in 1374 (1995) in collaboration with the Carl Duisberg Institute of Germany. This partnership established ILI's German program as a leading center for German language learning in Iran.
• Instituto Cervantes (موسسه سروانتس)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing negotiations with Instituto Cervantes, ILI was recognized as the first and only official DELE test center in Iran for administering the international Spanish language proficiency exams (levels A1 to C2), held at least twice annually in coordination with over 100 countries worldwide.
• University of Foreign Languages of Perugia, Italy (دانشگاه زبان‌های خارجی پروجا)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILI's Italian language department has obtained authorization from the University of Foreign Languages of Perugia to administer CELI international Italian language proficiency exams.
• Saint Petersburg State University (دانشگاه سن پترزبورگ روسیه)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILI partners with Saint Petersburg State University to administer the TORFL (ТРКИ) international Russian language proficiency exam in Iran, both online and in-person, in six levels (A1 through C2). Certificates are issued directly by Saint Petersburg State University.
• Kanoun (کانون پرورش فکری کودکان و نوجوانان)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILI was originally established in the library of Kanoun (Children and Adolescents Cultural Center) and maintains a longstanding institutional relationship. ILI textbooks and supplementary materials are sold through Kanoun bookstores. Joint cultural and educational events are regularly organized, such as the 'پیامی برای جهان' campaign offering 20% discount on spring term registration.
• Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance / Cultural Heritage Organization (سازمان فرهنگ و ارتباطات)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint campaign 'پیامی برای جهان' (A Message for the World) with the Children's and Adolescents' Cultural Center and the Cultural Heritage and Communications Organization, offering educational discounts to participants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: German cultural institution operating worldwide, delivering German-language courses and administering official German language exams. Comparable to ILI for German-language instruction (ILI partners with Carl Duisberg/Goethe-adjacent ecosystem), international exam administration, and institutional/government-affiliated teaching model.
• EF Education First: One of the world's largest private language education companies, operating language schools, online courses, and study abroad programs across multiple languages. Comparable to ILI for its multi-language curriculum, proprietary content, international exam preparation, and corporate/B2B training division.
• British Council: UK cultural organization delivering English-language teaching and administering IELTS/APIs in many markets. Comparable to ILI for international exam administration (IELTS), in-country English instruction, teacher training, and institutional heritage/credibility play.
• Berlitz Corporation: Global private language instruction chain operating across many countries with proprietary Berlitz Method. Highly comparable to ILI as a multi-language, in-person plus online language school with proprietary content and corporate training offerings, though Berlitz operates internationally rather than within a single country.
• Instituto Cervantes: Spain's official cultural institution promoting Spanish language and culture worldwide, administering DELE exams. Directly comparable to ILI as both a Spanish-language instruction provider and the awarding body for DELE — ILI's DELE test-center authorization comes from this very institution.

Direct peers

• Wall Street English: International chain of English-language schools offering blended in-person and digital instruction with proprietary curriculum. Closely comparable to ILI's English program model — multi-level curriculum, hybrid delivery, conversation-focused proprietary methodology, and corporate training.
• inlingua International: Global network of franchised language schools teaching multiple languages via proprietary inlingua method. Comparable to ILI for multi-language school model, proprietary methodology, and corporate language training (inlingua is known for in-company B2B programs).

Emerging players

• Lex (Iranian language learning platform): Iranian digital English-language learning platform. Comparable to ILI as a domestic Iranian language education provider focused on English, though Lex is digital/app-based and serves a younger segment, making it both competitor and adjacent player in the same Tehran market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ILI.ARABIC.DPT
• Xx.com/ili_twr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iran-language-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iran Language Institute