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teacheratlarge · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Japan

http://arabiangazette.com/english-proficiency-index-arab-countries-worst/

Interesting article with the EF English proficiency index showing the ranking for various countries. I was surprised to see Japan show up as high as it is (22nd) whereas I was a little surprised to see Russia come in at only 29th.

Spain, Portugal and Italy rank at 18th, 19th, and 24th respectively, which was another reason noted for why these countries are lagging economically (there is of course not always such a direct correlation, between English ability and economic prosperity, though this point was noted within the context of these countries competing in Europe).

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:30 am Post subject:

EF? Ha ha! I wouldn't rely on them for much - certainly nothing English related.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Just what is the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)? There wasn't even a link to it on that article as far as I could see. Any comparisons to that and IELTS, BULATS, TOEIC, TOEFL, etc.?

Cool Teacher

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:47 am Post subject:

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:52 am Post subject:

If you fiddle around on EF's website you'll come across this info:

http://www.ef-russia.ru/epi/about-epi/

Methodology
Indicator of the level of English language proficiency, developed by EF, characterizes the average level of English among adults based on data obtained from the results of three different tests on the knowledge of the language. Tests are held every year hundreds of thousands of people. Two tests are available on the Internet in the public domain. The third is an online qualifying test that EF uses to determine the level of students' knowledge when applying for courses in English. All three are divided into sections: grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening. Online qualification test is an adaptive test of 30 questions, which are selected by a difficulty for all students, depending on whether they respond to the previous questions. The other two tests consist of 60 and 70 questions. The test results provide an opportunity for students to choose a course that corresponds to their level. The testing procedure is the same in all cases: students take the exam from home, sitting at computers. It makes no sense artificially inflate their results, write off or pry, because the test results is given no evidence.

Online EF tests? Ha ha!!!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:55 am Post subject:

Apologies for the crappy translation of the above from Russian. Very Happy

Wonder how Google Translate would stack up on the EF scale?

Qaaolchoura · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:31 am Post subject:

By and large not shocking, but a few surprises:

1. India ranks higher than Switzerland? Really?
2. Why is Argentina so much higher than the rest of Latin America? And especially, why is Argentina so much higher than Chile? Given the relatively high standards and pay that seem to be in place for jobs in Chile, I'd have expected the reverse.
3. I'm surprised that Turkey scores better than Syria, but I suppose it's a matter of self-selection. The Syrians I meet are generally speaking to me because I speak English, whereas excepting my students (a huge exception to be sure) the same is not true of the Turks I meet.

~Q