Who's number 1? Really? What country's non-native English-speakers speak the best business English?

The Economist ^ | 08/13/2014

[cripplecreek]

Canadians.

[EveningStar]

Eh?

[SeekAndFind]

From YAHOO NEWS :

EXCERPT:

The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.
 
GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.
 
For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."
 
“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.
 

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[Fungi]

I’m with you, Canadians, except for the Quebecquois Canadians.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Canadians.

Canadians are non-native English speakers?

I thought it was Californians.... :)

[Zeneta]

From the movie Snatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGuGzH3Ne5w

***************Language warning**********

There’s a boat load of truth in his comments.

[colorado tanker]

When my wife and I have to call for technical assistance for electronic equipment we say we’re “calling India.”

[AlexW]

“The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency,”
_______________________________________________________
While the result seems surprising, one must know that English is the second language in the Philippines. It is not surprising to find even poor people out in the countryside who are able to speak English. My 3 yr old, now in school here, is taught in both English and Tagalog.
Here at home, he speaks only English.

[Reaganez]

It probably helps English fluency that the Philippines was a US Protectorate for 48 years.

And we were at Subic Bay for another half century.

[manc]

Having been to a few countries ten I would say Denmark or Norway.

[eclecticEel]

Actually, the Philippines was the country I thought of first just from the title; not surprised in the least.

[EDINVA]

“...the survey tested non-native speakers, so don’t be too distracted by the placement of the Anglophone countries.”

[Political Junkie Too]

Try listening to some airline pilots on a scanner near an airport, then see which countries have the poorest business English speaking pilots flying their planes.

-PJ

[SeekAndFind]

Other than the Anglo-Saxon countries, I would say, the Scandinavians, the Dutch and the Swiss speak the best English in Europe.

In Asia, I’d say it’s the Philippines, Malaysia, India and Singapore.

I’ve only been to South Africa in Africa and of course, they speak good English there, they’re mostly of Anglo-Dutch descent.

[peyton randolph]

The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency

---

It's the reason why a lot of white collar jobs have been outsourced to there instead of India in recent years. Cheap labor that actually speaks English.

[manc]

Agree with you there.
Most of Northern Europe I have been too and it seems their kids can speak English fluently when they are 7 years old.

[Dagnabitt]

Norway is a lot like the USA, except that in Norway, 7-11 clerks speak perfect English.

[GeronL]

does Konglish count?

lol

[manc]

The Boar if I am not mistaken right?