Do you ever think about how well Polish people speak English? Well, almost half of us do. According to a study, 45% of Poles are wrong about our level of English proficiency. Let me say, it’s not always about lying or boasting. The study suggests this might be due to our minds playing tricks on us. We’re all a little guilty of it – it’s about our self-perception. So, where does English stand in our skillset? And how does it stack up against other nations?
Going by the data from Pracuj.pl, out of 75,803 job offers, one in every three jobs requires knowledge of a foreign language. If you’re looking for a job, it’s good to know at least one foreign language, specifically English. It’s almost like a ticket to entry. But now, employers are asking for more. They need people who can speak additional languages too.
German, French, Spanish, and Italian are becoming quite popular. And if you know rarer languages like Chinese, Swedish, and Arabic, you’re in for a treat. I think, it’s safe to say that Poles understand the value of learning foreign languages. A whopping 80% of us believe that knowing a foreign language well could help us find a job quicker and earn more money.
Polish People English Skills – Are They Overconfident?
This brings us to the big question: How good are Polish people really at English? The Talent Bridge report, named „Yes, I don’t. Knowledge of English among candidates” shed some light on this. Apparently, we’re quite confident about our English skills. A bit too confident, perhaps. The overconfidence is particularly noticeable at the C2 (proficient) level. Out of 246 study participants who claimed to have C2 level English, only a mere 8% actually reached this level.
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It doesn’t stop there. For candidates claiming to have C1 (advanced) level English, the story is quite similar. Nearly 42% of these people actually had B2 (upper-intermediate) level English. Interestingly though, people who claim to have B1 (intermediate) English tend to underestimate their skills. A surprising 77% of these candidates actually performed better than they claimed. The most common English proficiency level among job applicants is B2 (43%). Almost half, 45%, of candidates get their level wrong – says the author of the report and the Managing Director at Talent Bridge.
Now, why do we overestimate our language skills? I am convinced that this doesn’t always stem from dishonesty. Rather, it’s linked to a psychological tendency called self-serving bias. As Piotr puts it, we are often prone to errors when it comes to evaluating ourselves. This can be a way to safeguard our self-esteem. However, it’s worth saying that if we don’t use a language, we gradually lose our fluency and tend to forget it.
The study also brought up some other interesting points:
- Men seem to have a better command of English at the advanced level (C1) than women (39% versus 33%).
- Candidates with a science background are slightly better at English than those with a humanities background – 39% compared to 35% at the C1 level.
- Generation Z candidates are the best English speakers among us. They make up the largest group with C1 level English skills (38%).
Poland Ranks Among the Top 20 English-speaking Countries
How does Poland fare globally when it comes to English proficiency? The EF Education First’s EF EPI (English Proficiency Index) has been ranking countries based on their English language skills for nearly a decade now. They analyze responses from close to 2 million test-takers from 100 countries.
Now, here’s something interesting. According to EF EPI, Poland has been consistently ranked in the top 20 since 2015. That’s a big deal when you consider that there are 100 countries in the ranking. In 2021, we secured the 16th spot. Let me say, young folks aged between 21 and 30 have the best English skills. But, it’s not just the younger generation that’s upping their game. The 30+ demographic also improved their English proficiency. It appears the pandemic and the prospect of better economic and social opportunities were big motivators.
However, the EF EPI study did point out a surprising detail. For the first time in a decade, women globally scored lower than men in the language test. While men scored 508 points, women managed 498 on a 700-point scale. That’s a mere 10 point difference, but it pushed women into the 'low’ proficiency level and men into 'moderate’.
It’s worth noting that the highest English proficiency is found among employees in consulting, IT, engineering, and FMCG industries.
How Does Poland Compare to Other Countries?
You might be wondering, who’s ahead of us? Well, South Africa – where English is an official language – along with Croatia and Germany, are directly ahead of us in the rankings. But hey, we’re doing better than Greece, Slovakia, and Luxembourg. These countries fall into the 'high proficiency’ group, which includes Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and surprisingly, Switzerland.
I believe it’s intriguing to see some of the countries that rank average in English proficiency. These include long-time EU members like Italy, Spain, France, and the highly developed Asian country, South Korea. This 'average’ group also includes countries like Belarus, Russia, Ghana, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
And who’s at the bottom of the pile? Well, that would be countries like Somalia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Libya, Yemen, Congo, and Laos.
Top English Proficient Countries According to EF Education First:
- Netherlands
- Singapore
- Austria
- Norway
- Denmark
- Belgium
- Sweden
- Finland
- Portugal
- Germany
- Croatia
- South Africa
- Poland
English Proficiency in Poland – One in Three Doesn’t Speak a Word
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into how Poles fare with English. According to data from Tutlo, around 32% of Poles don’t know any English. That’s one in three people! Meanwhile, almost 30% can manage some basic English. However, only a tiny fraction – just over 12% – have advanced English skills.
If you’re wondering about the age group with the best English skills, it’s the 18-29 bracket. About 37% of them are fluent in English, and another 40% are at the intermediate level. Not far behind are the 30-39-year-olds, with nearly 46% at an intermediate level and almost 19% at an advanced level.
Young people certainly have an advantage when it comes to learning English, but I think it’s important to note that it’s never too late to learn. Let me quote Yuliia Pysmenna, COO at Tutlo, who says:
„Considering the requirements set by employers, where experience is most important, and foreign language knowledge comes third, by improving language competences, people over 40 can become highly desirable employees. Gaining experience takes more time than learning a foreign language, especially when the learner decides the intensity of the course”.
The Impact of English Proficiency on Pay Raises and Bonuses
Tutlo’s data provides another interesting insight – 51% of respondents believe that not having a good command of English could be the reason they’re mising out on a raise. The earnings data seems to support this. Of those earning less than PLN 1,500 net per month, only 0.6% know advanced English, and nearly 60% don’t know English at all.
But things start to change as salaries increase. Among those earning between PLN 2,500-3,500 net per month, over 6% are fluent in English, while just over 31% admit they don’t know it.
And for those lucky individuals earning over PLN 7,000 net per month, only 9% don’t know English, and a whopping 44% are advanced English speakers.
So it looks like there is a correlation between English language knowledge and salary levels. But it doesn’t stop there. Tutlo’s data also reveals a link between English proficiency and education levels. Among those with basic vocational education, a masive 65% don’t use English at all. In contrast, 22% of university graduates are advanced English speakers, and only a little over 12% don’t know any English.
Boosting Career with Industry-Specific Language Courses
Foreign language proficiency, particularly in English, ranks as the third most common requirement set by employers. In fact, its mention in job ads has risen by 8 percentage points from last year. Let me say, this trend is particularly noticeable in certain sectors. For instance, in the finance industry, the demand for job roles like accountants and financial analysts has spiked by a hefty 36% over the year, as of September.
There’s a similar trend in IT-related jobs, where advertisements have surged by 26%. On the flip side, the need for people in physical labor jobs has taken a significant dip, down by 23% from last year.
What does this tell you? Well, in industries that are seeing a lot of job growth, knowing English is not just beneficial, it’s often a necessity for climbing up the career ladder. But, I am convinced that just being fluent in English may not be enough. You see, many times, employers and job roles demand an understanding of industry-specific jargon.
I can tell you this – if you’re planning your career progression, it is worth considering language courses tailored for your specific industry. These courses can arm you with the vocabulary and phrases commonly used in your sector, giving you an added advantage. As Yuliia Pysmenna concludes, „when planning your career, it is worth paying attention to language courses dedicated to a specific sector”.
References:
- https://pl.tutlo.com/
- https://talentbridge.pl/
