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Thursday 9 November 2017

Top English speakers

The Local has a piece on the latest English Proficiency Index.

Scandinavians are among the world's best non-native English speakers according to a global ranking, but have found themselves bested by the Dutch for the second year running.

The English Proficiency Index (EPI) from global language training company Education First (EF) put the Scandinavians behind the Netherlands for non-native English skills.

The Swedes were handed back the bragging rights over their Nordic rivals, snagging second place with Denmark following in third spot, down one place on last year. Sweden last came top in 2015 and Denmark in 2014. Norway came in fourth and Finland in sixth place. Iceland was not included in the study.

Eight countries in total earned the "very high" proficiency distinction, with six of them found in Europe: Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and South Africa.


Interesting - a chap is bound to wonder how well England would do if it wasn't excluded. 

5 comments:

Sam Vega said...

Innit doe...

The Jannie said...

I've often commented that Nederlanders speak better English than many born, bred and resident Brits.

Demetrius said...

It might depend on what English. Some Yorkshire people may have their own ideas.

James Higham said...

The Swedes always counted as Anglo in our travels over the years.

A K Haart said...

Sam - you gorrit dude.

DCB - I'm not surprised, good diction seems to have a low social priority.

Demetrius - yes there are many varieties, some easier on the ear than others.

James - I've never been there, not a great traveller.