Popcap article on GI.biz

"85 per cent of Europeans don’t speak English"

wow! Is that ‘don’t’ rather or ‘can’t’. Where is that stat from?

In the large EU countries a lot of people can speak English…pretty much everyone gets taught it.

I better get into teaching English to those 500million ppl :)

In the large EU countries a lot of people can speak English…pretty much everyone gets taught it.[/quote:d73c81e520]

It seems to me a quite high rate as well, but on the other hand, being taught a subject doesn’t mean you know it :). I come from a country where people who can speak English as second language are few; a lot of factors come into play regarding this matter, the first being necessity: if you don’t have to speak/write English why bother learning? It’s usually a business/academic language, where interaction with people from other countries it’s more likely to happen.
We wouldn’t have localisation companies otherwise.

I’d like also to notice another thing: how many native English speakers learn a second language?

My two cents.

Does Irish count? :)

I’d like also to notice another thing: how many native English speakers learn a second language?

[/quote:7be0fb10ea]

I was "taught" French in School….Worse.Teacher.Ever.

Since then I’ve picked up Italian and I can understand Spanish. I wish I knew more French\German :/

I’d like also to notice another thing: how many native English speakers learn a second language?

[/quote:c89abe4724]

I was "taught" French in School….Worse.Teacher.Ever.

Since then I’ve picked up Italian and I can understand Spanish. I wish I knew more French\German :/[/quote:c89abe4724]

I didn’t mean that as an offence, just a thought :) I actually did French at the primary school (almost forgot everything) and a little bit of German during my undergrad. I wish I’d know more of it, together with Spanish. I’d love to learn Japanese as well, but it requires too much time at this stage.

It was taken as an offence. I love languages, Ideally I want to move elsewhere in Europe, just need to get my portfolio up to scratch.

Note to self: Stop procrastinating on forums.