Hi Nigel,

I live in the Philippines and am a professional trainer here for the past three and a half years. There is no way they are the third most English speaking country. At least not anymore. The schools here have gone downhill so much so fast. They aren't even teaching English in most of the schools anymore. The biggest problem I have to deal with here is most of the employers insist on training their people in English and US standards but most, though college educated, can't do it. Worst of all, most don't care either. It's a cultural thing here. Great people trying to make their way in the world, but they've lost touch with the fact that most of their international clients (no matter what country they deal with) want everyone to speak English and speak it well.

My company prepares many overseas employees and the biggest complaint we get is that the employees we send can not and will no speak English with poor etiquette and lack of knowledge of the culture they are sent to work in coming in a close second. Many have been put on a plane and sent right back for additional training. If they don't make it, they lose their jobs. I see it every day. Now the company won't hire anyone unless they can clearly read, write and speak English. That limits us severely. We even sponsor the local schools to teach English but it will be a few years before we see fruit from the investment.