Madrid, March 22
From early childhood education, the little ones are taught the need to study a language as a mandatory subject. This means that throughout their formative and maturational development they see it as something tedious, synonymous with evaluations and exams, without really enjoying the linguistic greatness that learning English entails. This mentality takes its toll and causes 66% of Spaniards to study English just to get the official degree.
The problem lies in the labor market, which is increasingly demanding and competitive. One in three job offers requires a foreign language, in 92% of cases being English, to access it. Now it is no longer enough to write on the CV that one has a specific level of English, but it must be demonstrated and accredited with a certificate from the University of Cambridge or Oxford.
Having a certificate is the first proof that the user knows English, as well as an indication that proves other values such as effort or desire to improve. However, the problem is when an oral test is taken in the job interview. There it is perceived when the candidate simply has the title, but does not know how to fluently speak the Anglo-Saxon language.
In fact, according to data from the Business English 2023 report, prepared by Twenix, more than 60% of Spanish professionals acknowledge feeling uncomfortable speaking in English in their workplace. This affects middle management (62%), managers (60%) and employees (58%).
In addition, six out of 10 executives have been learning English for more than 10 years and four out of 10 for more than 20 years. Despite everything, the data shows that they do not trust that they have an optimal and appropriate level of English for the position.
Added to all this is the handicap of the duration of the title. Anyone that is more than two or three years old will lose its validity in a selection process. Consequently, it will depend on the use that was going to be given to it afterwards.
Actually, the lack of motivation to learn English is capital in Spain. It must be taken into account that candidates feel obliged to accredit an English degree in their CV so that it is perfect and, in many cases, a specific level is required even to close the university record.
If the situation is reversed and the requirement to have an official title is stopped, Spaniards could completely change their mentality and see English as an opportunity, rather than as an obligation, which in many cases is crossed and becomes a difficult obstacle to overcome. get over.
Furthermore, in Spain, the culture of error is deeply rooted. Due to the sense of ridicule and the fear of making mistakes, the willingness to participate openly in conversations is affected.
Studying English in Spain has become more something for young people than for older people. Those who reach a stage of maturity and find considerable job stability do not see it necessary to start studying a language from scratch. However, when the evolution of circumstances makes them study it, they end up becoming frustrated and encountering serious problems, because instead of enjoying themselves, they simply focus on achieving the title and advancing.
As happens in other areas of training and professional life, many people decide to study a specific subject simply because they need a degree, a card or an accreditation, completely losing the motivation to do so.
Spain is a country of 'titulitis', in which it is considered that a higher qualification allows access to a better job position and, it is true, although in many cases people end up resorting to positions below their qualification due to the saturation of the labor market.
In fact, Spain is the EU labor market with the highest rate of workers with a university degree occupying positions below their qualifications. This translates into numerous problems, including lower wages. In fact, Spain occupies fourth place in the ranking as the worst country in the OECD, only behind Korea, Canada and Mexico. It is followed, by just three tenths, by the US.
Choosing to develop attractive training programs, thematic visits and dynamic activities could facilitate a change of mentality in Spanish society, starting to study English not simply to obtain a degree.
Contact
Publisher: Seif English Academy
Contact: Journalistic Office
Contact email: comunicados@prensaymedios.com
