Posted on 08/13/2014 4:20:47 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
WHAT country's non-native English-speakers speak the best business English in the world? Try to think of five countries before reading on.
Done? The answer, according to GlobalEnglish, is probably not what you think. (GlobalEnglish is owned by Pearson, which part-owns The Economist).
Remember that the survey tested non-native speakers, so don't be too distracted by the placement of the Anglophone countries. Still, Global English's results are very strange. If you thought that the Philippines has the best business English in the world, and that Germany would miss the top 25, you haven't had the same work and travel experiences I have.
Global English says this about its Business English Index:
The GOE [Globalisation of English] and BEI [Business English Index] together give us a complete picture of the trends, achievements and challenges in business communication and the importance of Business English in the workplace.
If this is a complete picture, we have a genuine stop-the-presses moment here: Madagascar, Bulgaria and Romania well ahead of Denmark, Switzerland and Germany? Spain just behind Angola? If this doesn't violate your common sense about the relative quality of English around the world, look at a few neighboring and demographically similar countries. Slovenia miles ahead of Slovakia and the Czech Republic? Argentina and Uruguay leagues ahead of Chile?
In mild amazement, I wrote to Global English's press-relations person, asking how the study had been compiled. His reply:
The Business English Index is based on the placement test that GlobalEnglish subscribers take within GlobalEnglish Edge, an on-demand Business English development solution, to assess the Business English proficiency level of each respondent.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
Canadians.
Eh?
I’m with you, Canadians, except for the Quebecquois Canadians.
RE: Canadians.
Canadians are non-native English speakers?
I thought it was Californians.... :)
From the movie Snatch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGuGzH3Ne5w
***************Language warning**********
There’s a boat load of truth in his comments.
When my wife and I have to call for technical assistance for electronic equipment we say we’re “calling India.”
“The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency,”
_______________________________________________________
While the result seems surprising, one must know that English is the second language in the Philippines. It is not surprising to find even poor people out in the countryside who are able to speak English. My 3 yr old, now in school here, is taught in both English and Tagalog.
Here at home, he speaks only English.
It probably helps English fluency that the Philippines was a US Protectorate for 48 years.
And we were at Subic Bay for another half century.
Having been to a few countries ten I would say Denmark or Norway.
Actually, the Philippines was the country I thought of first just from the title; not surprised in the least.
“...the survey tested non-native speakers, so don’t be too distracted by the placement of the Anglophone countries.”
-PJ
Other than the Anglo-Saxon countries, I would say, the Scandinavians, the Dutch and the Swiss speak the best English in Europe.
In Asia, I’d say it’s the Philippines, Malaysia, India and Singapore.
I’ve only been to South Africa in Africa and of course, they speak good English there, they’re mostly of Anglo-Dutch descent.
It's the reason why a lot of white collar jobs have been outsourced to there instead of India in recent years. Cheap labor that actually speaks English.
Agree with you there.
Most of Northern Europe I have been too and it seems their kids can speak English fluently when they are 7 years old.
Norway is a lot like the USA, except that in Norway, 7-11 clerks speak perfect English.
does Konglish count?
lol
The Boar if I am not mistaken right?
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