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While I'm basing this of my own personal experiences in these countries, I find it hard to believe Malaysia is ahead of Singapore. Yes, many Singaporeans don't speak perfect (and sometimes downright embarrassing) English, and are a bit crude with their grammar, but English is still more widespread there, it's the language of education, the lingua franca of business.etc, and at least 80% (almost everyone under 65) can speak it fluently/functionally. While Malaysia still has the highest level of English proficiency on mainland Asia (by a margin), Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, and it seems to be on decline. While 32% of Singaporeans speak English as their mother tongue at home, it's probably about 20-25% in Malaysia.
And Vietnam higher than Sri Lanka? Having been to both, I found even most hotel staff had a very basic grasp of English and couldn't understand basic commands, whereas in Sri Lanka a lot of people could speak good English, even rural villagers. The other results seem pretty much what I'd expect. Where isn't the Philippines and Cambodia listed though?[/font]
For Europe, there's NO WAY 51% of Italians are 'proficient' in English, although they are listed as 'low proficiency.' I'm wondering what sort of sampling methodology they used to select those who took the test.
For Europe, there's NO WAY 51% of Italians are 'proficient' in English, although they are listed as 'low proficiency.' I'm wondering what sort of sampling methodology they used to select those who took the test.
The 50.97 for Italy is the Proficiency index eg the score of the study, not the percentage of proficient speakers.
Malaysia
58.99
Singapore
58.92
The difference is 0.07 points between those two. I think you can deal with it.
I found the methodology. "One test is open to any internet user for free. The second is an online placement test used by EF during the enrollment process before students start an English course." So, this is the number of adults who either A) already use the Internet and the World Wide Web, and/or B) intend to enroll in an online English study course. Aha. A highly selective sample of people, who one way or another have expressed an interest in furthering their English language study, because they are already using a substantial amount of English, which is inescapable on the internet. So, any variation would not reflect overall English proficiency among the general population, but only the degree to which a non-randomized selection of relatively affluent and educated people are already proficient when they reach a point at which they realize an incentive seek higher English proficiency. Which would be based on many varied social and economic and other demographic factors, quite apart from how well or how widely English is already spoken by their countrymen.
In other words, this report (by a for-profit company that has something to sell) doesn't just smell like BS, if feels like on your fingers.
From the Education First Website:
What we do
Our mission and our passion are one and the same. For almost 50 years, we've helped millions of people become citizens of the world by breaking down barriers of language, culture and geography. Through cultural exchanges, educational travel, language training and degree programs we are the World Leader in International Education.
Ranked at least 5 positions too high...
Estonia 4th, Poland 8th and Hungary 9th
I know, my Polish friend said even few young people could speak English fluently.
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