Jordan ranks 4th in region, 63rd worldwide in English proficiency index

AMMAN — Jordan has ranked 4th in the Arab region and 63rd worldwide in the 7th  EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) issued by Education First on Monday, which measures the English language skills in a total of 80 non-English speaking countries around the world.

This year’s edition was based on data from more than one million test takers who completed three different versions of the EF Standard English Test (EF SET) in 2016, according to the index report.

Despite having achieved a good position in the region, the Kingdom was still listed among the countries with a “very low” English proficiency score, standing at 47.40 points out of 100.

“Average English proficiency in the Middle East is very low,” the report stated, noting that “in most of the countries included in this year’s index, low-quality public education and fragile labour markets are slowing improvement in adult English proficiency.” 

“Especially in conflict zones, basic access to education remains a problem. And, although the Middle East’s relatively young population allows great potential for growth, it also strains already-weak education systems,” the report continued.

Regarding the English proficiency level by gender, Jordanian females showed a slightly better performance than their male counterparts, with 48.37 and 46.91 points respectively.  

“Women in most countries are more educated than men, more likely to complete general-track secondary school rather than vocational-track, and more likely to attend university,” the report stated, pointing out that “however, the gender gap is narrowing in some regions such as Latin America and the Middle East, where men are on par with women”.

Regarding the position of other countries in the Arab world, Tunisia was ranked first in the region and 56th globally, followed by the UAE (57th) and Morocco (60th).

Egypt stood close to Jordan at position 66th, followed by Saudi Arabia (72th) and Algeria (76th).

Several students at Jordanian universities have stressed the importance of English proficiency as a tool for international communication, and as a valuable skill upon entering the job market. 

Yazan Jamel, an English graduate at the Hashemite University, told The Jordan Times that “it is essential to learn English whether you plan to live in Jordan or abroad,” noting that “English is widely spoken in all professional fields and it is vital to speak it when it comes to build a profitable career, plus it is an advantage at the personal life level”.

English proficiency was also described as “beneficial” by Rama Al Khateeb, a Russian and English student at the University of Jordan who said she chose to study English not only to satisfy her literary vocation, but also “it is an international language that can help you in communicating anywhere in the world”.

“English works as a bridge between cultures,” the student continued, adding that “it is still important even if you decide to stay in Jordan, because it multiplies your chances of getting a job.”

Ghazal Aburaad expressed similar views, telling The Jordan Times that “language is the key to success”. She expressed how she “wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything without knowing English”.

“Every work field in Jordan requires English, and being proficient in languages is a great way to secure a good job,” the student pointed out. 

However, achieving a high English proficiency in the Kingdom also requires improving the skills of the instructors, according to Ghada, a teacher at a public school for girls in Ashrafieh in East Amman. 

“The problem that we have in Jordan is the difference of levels between public and private schools, and, while private schools offer international programmes, many English teachers at public schools lack the necessary qualifications,” Ghada said. 

“There is a need to focus on enhancing the skills of our English teachers, because only when this is achieved will we be able to advance the English skills of Jordanian students,” the teacher said.