Everyone from janitors to food court vendors in Singapore speak fluent English

By Phong Vu December 16, 2024 | 03:10 pm PT

Tourists pose for photos near Merlion Park in downtown Singapore, October 2024. Photo by Phong Vu

On my recent trip to Singapore, I was amazed to discover that everyone from janitors at Changi Airport to food court vendors speaks English fluently, leaving me with no communication barriers.

After landing at Changi Airport from Ho Chi Minh City in October, I asked a janitor in his 50s for directions to the restroom. He spoke fluent English and thanked me for visiting Singapore.

Later, while exploring a food court on Sentosa Island, a drink vendor in her 60s spoke English fluently to guide me on how to order food using an electronic machine.

Even on the bustling downtown streets, I noticed Singaporeans readily giving directions to tourists in English.

According to the 2024 English Proficiency Index by EF Education First, Singapore continues to lead Asia in English proficiency, scoring 609 points and ranking 3rd globally. It is the only Asian nation classified in the "very high proficiency" category, with a score above 600.

The index is based on results from EF SET tests taken by over 2.1 million non-native English speakers aged 18 and above.

Interestingly, a recent X (formerly Twitter) post by an American tourist praised Malaysians for speaking the best English in Asia. However, many netizens disagreed, arguing that Singaporeans and Filipinos are more proficient in English.

*The reader's opnions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress's viewpoints.