France, Spain, and Italy’s English skills are on the decline: study

Re:France, Spain, and Italy’s English skills are on the decl... by somberi on Thursday December 05, 2019 @07:54PM (#21718375)

I have visited Spain a few times over the last 20 years. I do not speak Spanish and I try to get by speaking English (these are few days at a time visit, and not long term stay).

From this one man's experience, it is not that Spain has regressed in its proficiency with English, but I find that other southern European countries (particularly Portugal) has upped the ante - a LOT.

To compare Paris (I understand it does not represent all of France, but it is one view point), 20 years ago I would have difficult time in ordering in a restaurant. A hardship many English-speaking visitors today will find hard to empathize with. In most places in Paris today I can get by with English and get complex transactions done.

Portugal has truly baked-in English proficiency into their national psyche now. Zealotry aside, this enables Portugal to further their economic and cultural interests more, I think.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:France, Spain, and Italy’s English skills are on the decl... by vidarh on Friday December 06, 2019 @08:15AM (#21721475)

> In most places in Paris today I can get by with English and get complex transactions done.

First times I went to France (90's), there were people I met who genuinely did not understand English at all - even simple words -, and I had shopkeepers who, when my stumbling French was also insufficient, pulled strangers off the street to translate, and at least in smaller towns it sometimes took multiple tries to find someone.

By my last few trips it'd become hard to practice my French because people switch to English the moment I stumble in French...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:France, Spain, and Italy’s English skills are on the decl... by hombre_fatal on Thursday December 05, 2019 @11:31PM (#21719279)

> these are few days at a time visit, and not long term stay

> it is not that Spain has regressed in its proficiency with English

I'm not sure your multi-day vacations give you enough insight to debunk the study in TFA which says it indeed has regressed.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:France, Spain, and Italy’s English skills are on the decl... by Al-Khwarizmi on Saturday December 07, 2019 @04:39AM (#21729351)

I agree, it sounds plausible to me that Spain has fallen back in relative terms because neighboring countries have been more successful in improving their English. However, the linked article implies that English proficiency in Spain has declined in absolute terms, which is what I find difficult to believe.

[ Parent | on HN ]