Global English proficiency insights for business leaders

Samantha Ball
Business people sat together smiling around a laptop
Reading time: 2 minutes

Are you ready to harness the power of English to drive your business forward? At ɫèAV, we are proud to announce the release of the ÌýɫèAV Global English Proficiency Report 2024, drawing upon extensive data to illuminate the state of English language skills worldwide. This report is meticulously crafted to equip business leaders with essential insights for informed decision-making.

The report analyzes approximately 750,000 Versant by ɫèAV test results, which were collected across more than 100 countries and encompass all major regions. Using our Global Scale of English, this report underlines key language trends pivotal in shaping global business dynamics.

English proficiency report insights
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Key global findings

1. Remarkable testing surge yet steady scores

English language testing has rocketed, amplifying fivefold since 2020. This surge, especially visible in sectors such as IT Business process management (IT-BPM) and Business process outsourcing (BPO), underscores English’s expanding significance in international business. Even with this testing boom, average scores remain consistent, highlighting a considerable and proficient global talent pool.

2. Pronounced regional developments

While global scores are maintained, cohorts in regions such as Africa and Europe have made noteworthy strides in English-speaking proficiency. These improvements mirror the escalating demand for robust English skills within these international workforces.

3. An upswing in writing proficiency

English writing skills are now reaching new heights. The surge in online written communication, driven by post-pandemic dynamics, might be a catalyst for this upswing. Be it in North America's strategic onshore hiring or Egypt's burgeoning BPO sector, writing proficiency is on the rise.

4. Strategic focus on L&D and hiring

Regions such as Asia Pacific, China, the Middle East, and Central Asia are integrating English as more than merely a hiring ingredient. Here, businesses are increasingly propelling language strength through dedicated training programs.

5. Industry-specific proficiency variability

Industry insights showcase crucial skills gaps and opportunities. The communications sector excels in verbal skills, while sectors like telecom show balanced proficiency across speaking and writing—each sector's unique requirements profile opportunities for refined training strategies.

Explore regional trends in more detail

Unlock a world of regional intelligence with our dedicated market analyses. From India’s emphasis on voice-based testing to Egypt’s ascent as a BPO powerhouse, our report takes you through the unique growth factors and challenges in key markets—India, the Philippines, Japan, Colombia, Egypt and Europe.

Get access to these insights and more by downloading the full report.

Connect with our legacy

For a comprehensive view of evolving language trends, revisit our earlier reports here:

Equip your enterprise with cutting-edge insights and secure a competitive edge in the world of global communication. Download the ɫèAV Global English Proficiency Report 2024 today and leverage ɫèAV’s English language testing and learning suite to support your business growth.

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  • A teacher helping a teenage student working at her desk in a library

    How teachers can use the GSE for professional development

    By Fajarudin Akbar
    Reading time: 4.5 minutes

    As English teachers, we’re usually the ones helping others grow. We guide learners through challenges, celebrate their progress and push them to reach new heights. But what about our own growth? How do we, as educators, continue to develop and refine our practice?

    The Global Scale of English (GSE) is often seen as a tool for assessing students. However, in my experience, it can also be a powerful guide for teachers who want to become more intentional, reflective, and confident in their teaching. Here's how the GSE has helped me in my own journey as an English teacher and how it can support yours too.

    About the GSE

    The GSE is a proficiency scale developed by ɫèAV. It measures English ability across four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – on a scale from 10 to 90. It’s aligned with the CEFR but offers more detailed learning objectives, which can be incredibly useful in diverse teaching contexts.

    I first encountered the GSE while exploring ways to better personalize learning objectives in my Business English classes. As a teacher in a non-formal education setting in Indonesia, I often work with students who don’t fit neatly into one CEFR level. I needed something more precise, more flexible, and more connected to real classroom practice. That’s when the GSE became a turning point.

    Reflecting on our teaching practice

    The GSE helped me pause and reflect. I started reading through the learning objectives and asking myself important questions. Were my lessons really aligned with what learners at this level needed? Was I challenging them just enough or too much?

    By using the GSE as a mirror, I began to see areas where I could improve. For example, I realized that, although I was confident teaching speaking skills, I wasn’t always giving enough attention to writing development. The GSE didn’t judge me. It simply showed me where I could grow.

    Planning with purpose

    One of the best things about the GSE is that it brings clarity to lesson planning. Instead of guessing whether an activity is suitable for a student’s level, I now check the GSE objectives. If I know a learner is at GSE 50 in speaking, I can design a role-play that matches that level of complexity. If another learner is at GSE 60, I can challenge them with more open-ended tasks.

    Planning becomes easier and more purposeful. I don’t just create lessons, I design learning experiences that truly meet students where they are.

    Collaborating with other teachers

    The GSE has also become a shared language for collaboration. When I run workshops or peer mentoring sessions, I often invite teachers to explore the GSE Toolkit together. We look at learning objectives, discuss how they apply to our learners, and brainstorm ways to adapt materials.

    These sessions are not just about theory: they’re energizing. Teachers leave with new ideas, renewed motivation and a clearer sense of how to bring their teaching to the next level.

    Getting started with the GSE

    If you’re curious about how to start using the GSE for your own growth, here are a few simple steps:

    • Visit the GSE Teacher Toolkit and explore the learning objectives for the skills and levels you teach.
    • Choose one or two objectives that resonate with you and reflect on whether your current lessons address them.
    • Try adapting a familiar activity to better align with a specific GSE range.
    • Use the GSE when planning peer observations or professional learning communities. It gives your discussions a clear focus.

    Case study from my classroom

    I once had a private Business English student preparing for a job interview. Her speaking skills were solid – around GSE 55 – but her writing was more limited, probably around GSE 45. Instead of giving her the same tasks across both skills, I personalized the lesson.

    For speaking, we practiced mock interviews using complex questions. For writing, I supported her with guided sentence frames for email writing. By targeting her actual levels, not just a general CEFR level, she improved faster and felt more confident.

    That experience reminded me that when we teach with clarity, learners respond with progress.

    Challenges and solutions

    Of course, using the GSE can feel overwhelming at first. There are many descriptors, and it can take time to get familiar with the scale. My advice is to start small: focus on one skill or one level. Also, use the Toolkit as a companion, not a checklist.

    Another challenge is integrating the GSE into existing materials, and this is where technology can help. I often use AI tools like ChatGPT to adjust or rewrite tasks so they better match specific GSE levels. This saves time and makes differentiation easier.

    Teachers deserve development too

    Teaching is a lifelong journey. The GSE doesn’t just support our students, it also supports us. It helps us reflect, plan, and collaborate more meaningfully. Most of all, it reminds us that our growth as teachers is just as important as the progress of our learners.

    If you’re looking for a simple, practical, and inspiring way to guide your professional development, give the GSE a try. It helped me grow, and I believe it can help you too.

    Additional resources