INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Brazil faces a big challenge as it prepares to host the United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in 2025.The country ranks 81st out of 116
countries on the EF English Proficiency Index, a respected international measure.This means most Brazilians have trouble speaking English
Only 5% can speak it at all, and just 1% speak it well.This problem is not the same everywhere in Brazil
matter for more than just talking to tourists
Brazilians who speak English well can get better jobs, especially with international companies.Official data shows that people with advanced
Many public school teachers do not have strong English skills themselves.Schools in poorer areas have fewer resources for teaching languages
Wealthier families can pay for private English classes, but most Brazilians cannot.This means that many young people, especially from
low-income families, finish school without being able to speak English.Brazil spends much less money per student on education than richer
countries.In 2023, the country spent R$3,583 per student, while the average for developed countries was R$10,949.This lack of investment
makes it hard to improve English teaching in public schools
Some new programs are trying to help.For example, the Access for Teachers program, supported by the U.S., trains public school teachers to
But these efforts are still small compared to the size of the problem.As Brazil gets ready to welcome thousands of international visitors
for COP30, the lack of English skills in key regions is a real concern.Without better English education, many Brazilians will miss out on
good jobs and the country will struggle to attract more international business.Official data and studies show that improving English skills
ProficiencyNetherlands (636)Norway (610)Singapore (609)Sweden (608)Croatia (607)Portugal (605)Denmark (603)Greece (602)Austria (600)High
ProficiencyGermany (598)South Africa (594)Romania (593)Belgium (592)Finland (590)Poland (588)Bulgaria (586)Hungary (585)Slovakia (584)Kenya
(581)Estonia (578)Luxembourg (576)Philippines (570)Lithuania (569)Serbia (568)Czechia (567)Malaysia (566)Suriname (563)Argentina (562)Cyprus
(558)Nigeria (557)Switzerland (550)Moderate ProficiencyHong Kong, China (549)Honduras (545)Georgia (543)Belarus (539)Spain (538)Uruguay
(538)Armenia (537)Moldova (536)Ukraine (535)Costa Rica (534)Ghana (534)Albania (533)Russia (532)Paraguay (531)Italy (528)Bolivia (525)Chile
(525)France (524)South Korea (523)Israel (522)Cuba (520)Peru (519)Uganda (518)El Salvador (513)Nepal (512)Venezuela (510)Guatemala
(496)Pakistan (493)Lebanon (492)India (490)U.A.E
(489)Panama (488)Tanzania (487)Sri Lanka (486)Colombia (485)Qatar (480)Morocco (479)Syria (473)Algeria (471)Mozambique (469)Indonesia
(468)Brazil (466)Ecuador (465)Egypt (465)Mongolia (464)Madagascar (463)Azerbaijan (462)Mexico (459)Kyrgyzstan (457)Kuwait (456)Cabo Verde
(456)China (455)Japan (454)Very Low ProficiencyMyanmar (449)Palestine (448)Afghanistan (447)Malawi (447)Cameroon (445)Uzbekistan (439)Sudan
(432)Haiti (432)Jordan (431)Senegal (429)Kazakhstan (427)Oman (421)Saudi Arabia (417)Thailand (415)Iraq (414)Benin (413)Tajikistan
