TOKYO (TR) – The private company behind the survey of English proficiency that targets 116 countries and regions where English is not the native language said on Wednesday that Japan this year dropped to its lowest level since the survey began more than one decade ago.
The Japanese subsidiary of Swiss educational company EF Education First said that Japan ranks 92nd, one spot ahead of Myanmar. The ranking is down five spots from the year before, reports NHK (Nov. 16).
The survey was started in 2011 by the company, whose local subsidiary operates study-abroad programs worldwide. Every year it conducts online tests for approximately 2.1 million people in countries and regions where English is not the native language.
This year, 116 countries and regions were surveyed. The maximum score attainable on the test was 800 points. The average for all test takers was 477 points. Averaging 454 points was Japan, whose ranking has declined each successive year the survey has been conducted.
Topping the list was the Netherlands with 636 points. Norway came in second and Singapore third. The Philippines and Malaysia are two other Asian countries that performed well, coming in 22nd and 26th places, respectively.
Stagnant compared to other countries and regions
The subsidiary of EF Education First operates study abroad programs. The subsidiary said that English proficiency of young people in Japan is stagnant compared to other countries and regions.
The subsidiary added that improvements in English education are needed, including the provision of lifelong learning programs for working adults and the establishment of evaluation systems that emphasize dialogue in schools.
Japan performed poorly for those aged 18 to 25 in comparison to older age groups. The subsidiary believes this is due to a decrease in motivation for communication that came about due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A representative of the subsidiary speculated rather than a decline in English skills Japan “cannot keep up with the growth in proficiency of other countries and regions.”
