Philippines' Global Workers Top Business English Index

Okay, here’s the deal: the Philippines trumps the rest of the world—or so it seems—in Business English proficiency in the workplace. We even nosed out the US, UK, Canada and Australia—all native English-speaking countries!

GlobalEnglish recently published their 2012 Business English Index and we—or our global workers—scored 7.11. That means we can hold ourselves well in any virtual or real-world business meetings, actively contribute in any enterprise debates or deliberations, and do intricate tasks (like creating presentations or negotiating contracts).

(A 1.0 rating means you can read and talk English in simple questions and statements but, to a certain degree, can’t speak or grasp basic business information during phone calls. A 10.0 score means you’re at par with a native English speaker in interactions and collaborations in the workplace.)

So why the premium on Business English?

In a word: globalization.

Because of globalization, businesses are setting up shop and outsourcing work in other countries to beef up their bottom line. National borders have grown so porous that, aided and abetted by the Internet, it’s typical for an AT&T customer in Texas to be talking to a customer service representative in Manila. Heck, I’m earning a living writing for and assisting clients who’re deep in their REMs while I’m pounding away at my keyboard!

Because English is taught in schools in all countries and many people can understand it, English has become the universal language. So it goes that in business dealings, English is the de facto language between native and non-native speakers, and especially among the non-natives.

Turns out, too, that English not only facilitates understanding and collaboration, it’s also directly linked to increased productivity...which eventually leads to better financial performance.

In its news release, GlobalEnglish cites a Towers Watson study that shows “effective business communications can lead to a 47 percent higher total shareholder return.” The release further says that the Philippines and Norway, true to their top five rankings in the 2011 and 2012 BEI, are “improving their economies.” On the other hand, “struggling economic powers” Japan, Italy and Mexico have a business English proficiency that’s below 4.0—which is okay when reading and conversing using simple questions and statements but not helpful when talking with a business associate over the telephone.

Incidentally, three universities from the Philippines—Ateneo de Manila (24th), University of the Philippines (32nd), and De La Salle University (44th)—were included in the world’s best 50 schools where you can get the best English language and literature education. (Ahem! Not to blow my own horn but I’m a University of the Philippines alumna, heh.)

This last tidbit was shared by a friend on Facebook, along with an old joke from my college days (translated to English): “In Ateneo, English is difficult; in UP, it’s Math; in La Salle, it’s the parking.” Heh.

Both of these news show that virtual assistants and writers from the Philippines (like me) are as good as, if not better, than our native English-speaking counterparts in such global marketplaces as oDesk and Elance. Sometimes, I encounter potential clients that shortlist only native English speakers or North American providers because of this perceived “English proficiency” bias…and it doesn’t sit well with me. I’m grateful that the clients who I eventually end up working with don’t have such qualms. Still, the opportunities lost…

But I'm happy. My industry's got one of the top BEIs and my country's the undisputed leader. What more can I ask? :)