The EPI revealed that there is a trend of decreasing English proficiency among young people, while working adults are consistently improving their English skills.
The EPI revealed that there is a trend of decreasing English proficiency among young people, while working adults are consistently improving their English skills.
The most recent index assessing English language proficiency globally indicates a decline in the proficiency of young people in the English language.
The 2023 EF English Proficiency Index evaluates and ranks countries and regions based on English proficiency. This index relies on test results from 2.2 million individuals across 113 countries and is published by EF Education First, a private company headquartered in Switzerland.
Voice of America Learning English has collaborated with EF Education First to offer the online test to English learners.
The EPI revealed that there is a trend of decreasing English proficiency among young people, while working adults are consistently improving their English skills.
Diverse opinions exist regarding the reasons for the difference in English proficiency trends. Some attribute it to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others suggest that the rise of artificial intelligence tools could also be a contributing factor.
EF Education First unveiled the 2023 index in November. Kate Bell, the author of the EF EPI, cautioned that the index might create a misleading impression of global stability, indicating that English speakers’ proficiency remains relatively constant.
However, Bell emphasized that while some countries show gains, these are counterbalanced by losses in proficiency in other regions, as mentioned in an EF Education First press release.
Results by age bracket
Results by age group were first reported in 2015, and since then, the English proficiency of young people, defined as those aged 18 to 20 years, has declined by 89 points according to the EPI.
Although the 18 to 20 age group was generally stable, there were significant declines in a few large countries, as highlighted by the EPI. Notably, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Japan exhibited the most substantial proficiency decreases among young people.
The EPI report pointed out that the decrease in proficiency among young people coincided with disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting regular education. The report stated, “It is not yet clear if learning loss due to Covid will self-correct over time,” but it anticipates improved scores in the future.
It noted that the challenge is more pronounced in countries where English proficiency has been on a declining trend over time and in places where education systems are currently less effective in teaching English compared to previous periods.
Contrastingly, working adults, individuals aged 26 and older, have shown improvement in their English proficiency since 2015, according to the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI). The report suggests that this trend may be attributed to the workplace recognizing the value of a shared language, as English opens up opportunities for individuals and enhances productivity for organizations.
Results by gender
The EPI indicates a gender gap in English proficiency, with the difference being three times larger among individuals aged 18 to 25 compared to working adults. Since 2015, men’s proficiency has improved by 14 points, while women’s proficiency has decreased by 19 points.
It suggests that the gender gap in international job opportunities may contribute to the observed differences. However, the larger gender gap among those aged 18 to 25 may indicate a deeper issue related to educational systems or societal challenges that schools are currently not effectively addressing, as noted in the report.
An exception was observed in the Middle East, where the average score for women increased by 44 points, surpassing the proficiency of men in that region.
Higher proficiency countries with lower average scores
A notable trend in the EPI is the observation that countries with very high proficiency, along with many high proficiency countries, had lower average scores compared to 2022. This trend is speculated to be a potential effect of the pandemic, impacting learning, travel, and in-person communication.
The Czech Republic is among the countries whose scores dropped in 2023, according to Sabina Wyrob from the Czech office of EF Education First. Wyrob mentioned that online teaching during the pandemic has impacted children’s English skills. While schools and students are attempting to make up for the lost learning, there is still a challenge in moving forward, she told the Czech News Agency.
AI impact
The report emphasizes that learning a language not only provides an understanding of new ideas but also fosters a better understanding of people. The report highlights that these skills, rooted in language learning, remain beyond the reach of artificial intelligence.
Jeannie Tse, a country manager at EF Hong Kong and Macau, shared her perspective with The Standard newspaper in Hong Kong.
Tse emphasized that although AI has altered the learning and working landscape for young people, the significance of schools, teachers, and face-to-face instruction persists. She expressed doubt that AI could entirely replace language learning but suggested that educators could leverage AI to enhance language learning methods.
English language learning market growth
The global market for English language learning is projected to increase from $11.35 billion in 2021 to $35.78 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.6 percent. This growth will be fueled by an increased use of smartphones, smart devices, and internet users.
The market is expected to increase due to increased government investment in digital educational materials and the development of online e-learning platforms.
In addition to the growth of technology-enabled learning platforms, the English language learning market is benefiting from expanding globalization and demand for English proficiency in international academic and corporate settings. This encompasses a wide range of instructional materials, equipment, and services designed to help people improve their English fluency. The end-user category includes corporate learners, individual users, educational institutions, and governmental entities.
