|
EF EPI |
37.6- |
48.8- 52.3 |
52.8- 57.3 |
58.1- 62.1 |
63.2- |
|
English |
Very |
Low | Moderate | High |
Very |
Where English skills are very high (where EF EPI Scores are 63.2 or higher), per-capita income jumps above the trend line, or well above.
English-language networks open up research
English serves as a bridge that connects employees across countries and cultures, weaving networks for innovation.
By a wide margin, researchers in the United States publish the most scientific papers every year, and the United Kingdom ranks third in publication numbers, after China. However,… Chinese research accounts for only 4% of global citations in science publications, compared to 30% for the U.S. and 8% for the U.K. …Chinese research is less integrated into the global knowledge economy.
English skills allow innovators to read primary scientific research, form international collaborations, bring in talent from overseas, and participate in conferences. English proficiency expands the number of connections innovators can make with the ideas and people they need to generate original work.
English-language networks open up business
English spread as a language of international trade and diplomacy first under the British Empire, and then during the postwar economic expansion of the United States.
An increasing number of companies headquartered in non-English-speaking countries (e.g., Rakuten, Renault, and Samsung) have adopted English as their corporate language.
Networks bring better salaries and quality of life
An improvement in English proficiency is tied to a rise in salaries… In many countries, higher English proficiency correlates with a lower unemployment rate among young people.
The Human Development Index measures education attainment, life expectancy, literacy, and standards of living. …all High and Very High Proficiency countries are rated “Very High Human Development” on the HDI.
…English is a core skill today. …it should be taught and tested at a level equivalent to native language reading and math skills.
EF EPI methodology
The data for this sixth edition was calculated using results from 950,000 test takers who completed three different EF English tests in 2015. Two tests are open to any Internet user for free. The third is an online placement test used by EF during the enrollment process for English courses.[1]
- EF EPI: EF English Proficiency Index. 6th ed., Education First, 2016.