2007-03-04 19:29:53 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Any answer you get here will be contentious at best. I would imagine you're asking about second-language speakers (i.e., not English-speaking expats). It's a bit like the literacy rate: How do you define literacy? Having lived in Japan for many years, I can tell you that English is compulsory from the start of junior high school (i.e., Grade 7). As 95% of all Japanese students finish high school, we might infer that an equal proportion of Japanese people over the age of 18 should speak English. If you travel over there, however, you will discover that you can get your needs met in English in most places, but you shouldn't expect to hold in-depth conversations with too many people. Language standards in Japan are not the same as those in Europe. I can't say anything about Korea or Brazil.
2007-03-12 07:26:36 · answer #1 · answered by paladin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Tokyo E to a point. But my experience, through working with students, is that if they can pass the TOEIC with a high score, they can speak English. Case in point. Two new students. Both with TOEIC scores of over 900. Makes it hard for me to find things to teach them. And they TALK to me. There is some hesitation while they think, but the communication is THERE. My wife probably knows more English grammar than I do. And she is Japanese. She says that "I am always sleeping at 3AM" is not proper grammar. It may not be proper grammar but people SAY it. Sorry, Tokyo E, but if a student can score 900+ on the TOEIC, then they can speak English. Now, to the question, and this is a short answer. What percentage of the population can speak English flunetly? I'll take a wild guess and say 5%. Definitely less than 10%. And I am being VERY lenient here. Cut the figures above in half and I would feel more comfortable.
2016-03-29 00:38:41 · answer #2 · answered by Sheila 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A wild guess:
Japan 12%
Korea 25%
Brazil 40%
2007-03-04 19:34:57 · answer #3 · answered by sk|TTLes™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be a little more specific. do you mean English as a mother tongue or just people who had some english in high school , of wich there are very many
2007-03-12 10:42:39 · answer #4 · answered by Maka 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋