I agree on this point, but at a cultural, not language level. It's important to understand the personal goals and challenges of employees, wherever in the world, and sometimes they're quite different.
On English in schools:
China's high school qualification requires a 2nd language, which contributes 150 points to the total score (750), at the same level as Maths and Chinese (it then gets a bit complex depending on city and stream, but around 10 subjects are usually studied in a comprehensive school). It is required to pass in order to get a high school graduation certificate.
Which is why the 9 year old can translate something.
The thing is, it's not based on speaking. It's rote memorisation of grammar rules. And hated, as there's little practical application.
On cross-cultural communication and hiring:
And foreigners often just don't get that, resulting in patronising slowing down of speaking but absolutely no change/simplification of vocabulary. Or just no adaptation. Hence the eye-rolling.
I'm in the Northeast, and it is indeed a challenge getting free-flowing conversation going with someone based on their selection itself based on paper qualifications. But it is a myth that English is a problem for the right people. Just interview for it.
Nobody here speaks English.
And I don't mean it like in typical Western way of "frankly, you must see that my language skills are indeed not suitably developed for this conversation" not speaking English. They'll roll their eyes if you say "hello" or "thank you" to them; you can sometimes get to be translated by a 9 years old (apparently they have English in schools now, or something - but I'm not sure). Even in tech companies people barely know any English - they know the work-related vocabulary, but forget talking about anything other than the job.
So, learn their language or find someone who you trust who can speak it.