4 ms·

> Don't forget, most Europeans also speak English. Just pointing out that's not true. The number is around 38% who have a working knowledge, second place is ti

• robinson7d 9y ago
  That citation is for "English as a foreign language", and if you read the end of the paragraph you see they are excluding UK and Ireland. English as a first language accounts for 13%, which when added to the 38% leaves you with 51% (or, "most") http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/e... (Cited at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_European_Union#Knowledge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_European_Unio...)
• NicoJuicy 9y ago
  All those who you get in contact with then ;) Those numbers also don't have a correct representation of English speaking business owners and English speakers ( first language). Since your numbers mention "English as foreign language". Same wiki : The language is also a required subject in most European countries.[3] Thus, the percentage of English speakers is expected to rise.
  • freeflight 9y ago
    > Thus, the percentage of English speakers is expected to rise. The number of English speakers has been steadily increasing for quite a while already, at least in Germany. Mere 10 years ago speaking English was a skill which wasn't that common and thus quite a bit valued, nowadays most modern (and especially IT-centric) companies expect you to know English, it's nothing really special anymore, at this point it's rather expected.