What countries require students to study English?

[xiansheng_g]

Originally Posted by Chris Balducci

What countries with a first language other than English require students to study English? I think all Northern European countries do, because whenever a reporter in the United States interviews people on the streets in Amsterdam, Stockholm, etc., the people speak in English.

God bless,

CKB

P.S. I'm American, which means I only know English!

Just about every person I've met from the People's Republic of China under age of forty five has told me that they studied English beginning in elementary school.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Chris Balducci

Whenever an American reporter interviews an Israeli, that person usually replies in English. A Palestinian usually responds in Arabic. I think the fact that more Israelis seem to know English plays at least a small part in why Americans tend to be more sympathetic to Israelis.

I would say there is probably a bit more to it than that...

[Davy-040]

Originally Posted by Chava61

France, China and Israel require students to study English.

The French? Really? Whahaha

[Rob702]

Originally Posted by Chris Balducci

Rob702,

I found the ABBA interview interesting since it was conducted in English instead of, say, German.

Hmm, I don't know. Doesn't surprise me. English it the lingua franca for the most part. Many people in Sweden or the Netherlands also learn German, but normally their English skills are better, even if Dutch and Swedish are also related to German. Would you also find it surprising if a Chinese interviews a Korean in English as opposed to Japanese?

[2360039]

Flanders - dutch is the language
At school they start with foreign languages, from the age of
10 yrs: French
12-13 yrs: English
15-16 yrs: German (sometimes students can chose German or Spanish)

[mrconfusion87]

The Philippines definitely does, thanks to American colonial influence!

[Little Mommie]

Many foreign countries have actually adopted English as their official language, which is rather amusing since this country is not one of them. In any case, if you got to englishspeakingcountries.com there is a list of countries who have English as a primary or secondary language. English is the second most spoken language, Chinese is the first. Most of world business, banking, and all international flying in done in English.