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Publicerad 2014-11-14
Swedes have been ranked as world leading when it comes to English as a second language. But now our place on top of the throne has been taken over by Danes and Dutchmen, according to a new report from the language company EF.
However, a third place is nothing to be ashamed of.
– The result is not so surprising. Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands are small countries that have been dependent on foreign trade for a long time. Sweden recognized early the need for a language to trade internationally. Earlier that language was German and now it is English, says Claes Cedar, executive vice president of EF.
Based on language tests
The report is based on language tests among 750,000 adults aged 18-62 years in 62 countries. However, it is not about a cross-section of the population. The respondents are adults who feel the need to improve their English.
– It ranges from companies that want to map their English level to individuals who want to test their English. These factors can both raise and lower our results compared to the average level of the population.
Swedes among the best
Among more than 100,000 professionals in 32 countries, English has been put under the microscope by an online language test. Swedes are among the best in the world, and middle-level managers turn out to be better than their senior managers.
– It's partly an issue of generations. Those coming up to middle management level today interact more often and more intensively with the outside world. That raises the English requirements.