Since 2011, the Switzerland-based international education company Education First (EF) has released the world’s largest English Proficiency Index (EPI). The newly published 2024 EPI by EF analyzed test results from 2.1 million people across 116 countries and regions where English is not considered a native language. The test is scored out of 800 points, and the average score among all test participants this year was 477. Countries and regions are categorized into five proficiency bands that reflect their relative English ability: Very High Proficiency, High Proficiency, Moderate Proficiency, Low Proficiency, and Very Low Proficiency.
So, where does Japan rank on this list? This year’s global rankings place Japan at 92nd (average score: 454), putting it at the bottom of the Low Proficiency category. This marks a decline from last year’s ranking of 87th and continues the country’s steady downward trend since EF EPI began. Furthermore, when the test data for Japan is broken down by age, test-takers aged 18-25 performed significantly worse than those aged 26 and older, many of whom likely use English more frequently at work.
For reference, the Netherlands secured first place among 116 countries and regions in the 2024 EF EPI. The top scorer in Asia was Singapore at 3rd place (Very High Proficiency), followed by the Philippines at 22nd and Malaysia at 26th (High Proficiency). Japan’s East Asian neighbors, South Korea and China, ranked 50th (Moderate Proficiency) and 91st (Low Proficiency), respectively. The only countries in East and Southeast Asia with lower scores than Japan were Myanmar at 93rd, Thailand at 106th, and Cambodia at 111th (all in the Very Low Proficiency category).
However, it is worth noting that both Laos and North Korea were excluded from the EPI due to not meeting the minimum requirement of 400 test-takers per country or region. The full EPI results and EF’s recommended strategies for improving English proficiency in various contexts are available on their website.
Responding to Japan’s low placement, a representative from EF’s Japanese subsidiary issued the following statement:
“It is not that English proficiency in Japan is declining, but rather that Japan has not been able to keep up with the progress made by other countries.”
Image: SoraNews24
As someone who has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in the U.S. and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Japan, I have observed several unique challenges facing English education in Japan. Common factors frequently cited by myself and my colleagues, both native English speakers and Japanese English teachers, include:
- A strong emphasis on grammar for exam preparation rather than oral communication.
- Instructors failing to meet language proficiency benchmarks due to the heavy workload teachers face.
- Declining motivation—especially as a result of the pandemic—leading Japanese students to feel that English is not essential for living and working in Japan.
Perhaps the Japanese government should focus on promoting strategies that appear to boost language-learning motivation—such as enlisting virtual YouTuber Ellen-sensei for children or hosting language classes in dedicated English-speaking venues, like bars for adults.
Source: Yahoo! Japan News via Itai News
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