Real demand for English is not as high as the picture painted by English centers

I have come to realize that professional success has much more to do with one's abilities and work ethic than with proficiency in English.

Throughout my career, I have encountered colleagues who were fluent in English and proficient with computers, yet struggled to perform their jobs effectively. On the other hand, I have worked with individuals who were not strong in either skill, yet consistently delivered excellent results. This made me understand that excelling at work is not necessarily linked to English proficiency or advanced computer skills. In fact, most people today have a basic level of computer literacy, unless they are in IT fields that require specialized knowledge.

If your job requires English, then by all means, learn it. But this does not have to be an overwhelming task. If your role does not involve using English daily, it is perfectly normal not to be fluent. I emphasize this so that students can focus on what truly matters in their education, rather than blindly learning English at the expense of their core skills.

I still read scientific reports in English and grasp the essentials, even though I am not fluent. For terms I do not understand, I can simply use a translation tool. Ultimately, it is your professional skills, worldview, and life experience that determine your success. These qualities can be developed independently of English proficiency. While English is indeed valuable, it is not a magic bullet or a universally superior skill.

I have two classmates who have worked for a Singaporean company and a Japanese company for over 20 years. They are both excellent in English, and traveling abroad is second nature to them. Yet, they are still employees, waiting for their monthly paychecks like any other worker, even though their incomes might be slightly higher. Conversely, the most successful people in my class are three students who were not particularly good at English. They built their own businesses, which have flourished over the past 20 years. Their incomes are likely many times greater than those of our classmates who are fluent in English.

English is not the magic path to success that it is often made out to be. Unfortunately, many parents, believing in this myth, push their children into rigorous English classes from the first grade. They do not realize that the picture painted by English centers is often far more glamorous than the reality.