Citizens of Holland are number 2 in mastering English

Citizens of Holland are number 2 in mastering English.According to a list from EF English Proficiency Index EF EPI, The Netherlands on the second place in English language know-how after Norway.

Denmark took the third place. It is followed Sweden and Finland. The lowest scores were recorded in Turkey and South America.

The list is the first of its kind to rank English language proficiency. The results were pulled from more than two million people in 44 different countries who took a free online English test between 2007 and 2009.

The five countries that top the ranking have remarkable similarities, says the list’s publisher EF Education First. They are all prosperous northern European countries where English is spoken by a small number of people beyond national borders. Residents of these countries also have good education levels and score well on academic ability tests.

“People from small Nordic countries are motivated to learn English at a high level because they known that English language proficiency is essential for their professional careers.

That may be the only way to survive in the global economy and find economic success outside of their borders.”

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English courses at UvA talen in Amsterdam

Every year around 1,000 participants come to the language school "UvA Talen" to improve or acquire language skills. UvA Talen offers the largest selection of language courses, available in Amsterdam. The modules in 10 different language courses run several times a year, and classes take place several times a week. They suit any individual, who wishes to improve the language proficiency.

The language courses at UvA Talen are results-oriented. The main goal is to raise the participants’ level of knowledge in a short period of time, which also requires a big effort and a hard work from each participant. The tutors are the native speakers of the language. They teach every aspect of the language in a very profound way.

It is known that the best way to learn a foreign language is to communicate, and group classes is an excellent way to do so. It also helps to get a better understanding of all different nuances of the language. The courses are held in small groups of 4 - 12 people, where the students can receive plenty of individual attention from the instructors.

The small group size also promotes interaction between the participants. Students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and to contribute to the lessons in order to bring out the best in themselves and their fellow classmates.

As one of the leading adult language education specialists in the Netherlands, UvA Talen is a popular provider of English language courses. The language school offers an extensive range of general language proficiency courses from English Elementary (A1) to the English Proficiency Masterclass (C1.2), as well as an English Refresher Course.

These courses allow the participants to improve their comprehensive language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Participants will systematically and rapidly build vocabulary and gain additional practical knowledge of English grammar.

The teachers utilize high-quality and accredited teaching materials carefully selected based on our many years of experience. A final test finalizes the each language course.

Besides the general language courses the language school also offers a number of special courses at the upper-intermediate and advanced levels. English@Work and Writing Business Reports enable business professionals to finetune their language skills for the appropriate field. Writing Papers in English has been created specifically for those with an academic background. UvA Talen offers a Presentation Skills course on giving presentations in English. A final test finalizes the each language course.

All language courses are based on the European Framework of Reference, an internationally recognized standard for language levels developed by the Council of Europe. This indicates the language level can be achieved upon the finishing of each language course. The achieved level will be stated on the certificate, which is issued upon satisfactory completion of the final test. For more information on the European Framework of Reference.

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