How many people can read and write English in India?
India now claims to be the world’s second-largest English-speaking country. The most reliable estimate is around 10\% of its population or 125 million people, second only to the US and expected to quadruple in the next decade.
Does everybody in India speak English?
Estimates range between anything from 12\% to around 30\% of the Indian population speaking English to some extent, the vast majority of them not very fluent though. However, the actual number of English speakers is still quite high in India.
Why is it hard to understand Indian English?
The top reason Americans don’t understand Indian accented English is because you say words using the wrong syllable stress. Two common examples are the words development and alternative. When you say these words, you stress the wrong part of the word. Americans put stress on a different syllable.
Does India use British English?
However, Indians speak British English, and there are many differences between British English and American English. Therefore, if you are not familiar with correct words, there may be some confusion while communicating. Sometimes, the spelling of the words may be the same but they are pronounced differently.
Why do Indian students struggle to write in English?
Every year, many Indian students go to pursue their studies abroad in colleges where the main language of instruction is English. If the Indian students have spent a majority of their pre-college academic life speaking and writing their native tongue, mastering English becomes a huge problem, particularly when it comes to writing.
What percentage of Indians in India speak English?
India is 2nd on the list of majority of English speakers, with 125 million people speaking English. Very few of those speak it as a first language. For the rest, it’s a second language. People say, it’s about 10\%. But the people who speak, read and write it flawlessly are perhaps, only about 2 \% of the population.
Why are there so many teachers in India who can’t speak English?
Curiously, many states in India have attempted to make English the medium of instruction for all schools in an attempt to assuage the demands of the poor; however, the shortage of teachers who can even speak English is surreal. All of this while the vast majority is able to communicate in their respective mother tongues.
How can we help Indian students improve their English skills?
The solution for Indian students, in this case, is for them to improve their overall English skills by reading more English literature. They should make this a habit because not only will it expand their vocabulary but also teach them the best way to use words and construct sensible sentences.