Have your say: What's been your experience speaking English in Austria?
It's not uncommon for immigrants who arrive in Austria without knowing any German to rely on their English skills to get by. But how much can you use it in daily life?
Austrians have a very high proficiency level in English, ranking second in Europe (after the Netherlands) and third in the world, according to the 2022 EF English Proficiency Index.
Doing well on international English exams is one thing, but actually wanting to speak the language on a day-to-day basis - or to those who are still not fluent in German - it's another thing entirely.
READ ALSO: In Detail: Just how good are Austrians at speaking English?
English is not spoken (or rarely spoken) in Austrian bureaucracy, including in its offices for immigration. Many readers suggest that immigrants find a German speaker to help them.
When it comes to your Austrian friends, immigrants often say that those who do speak English may take some time to feel comfortable speaking the foreign language with you. But also it's not uncommon for locals to speak English with you to a certain extent - and then swap to German when they deem you have been in Austria "long enough".
Of course, these experiences vary. So we want to hear from you: what has been your experience speaking English with locals in Austria?
[typeform_embed type="embed" url="https://thelocal.typeform.com/to/Mrx5MeO6"]
Comments (1)
See Also
Austrians have a very high proficiency level in English, ranking second in Europe (after the Netherlands) and third in the world, according to the 2022 EF English Proficiency Index.
Doing well on international English exams is one thing, but actually wanting to speak the language on a day-to-day basis - or to those who are still not fluent in German - it's another thing entirely.
READ ALSO: In Detail: Just how good are Austrians at speaking English?
English is not spoken (or rarely spoken) in Austrian bureaucracy, including in its offices for immigration. Many readers suggest that immigrants find a German speaker to help them.
When it comes to your Austrian friends, immigrants often say that those who do speak English may take some time to feel comfortable speaking the foreign language with you. But also it's not uncommon for locals to speak English with you to a certain extent - and then swap to German when they deem you have been in Austria "long enough".
Of course, these experiences vary. So we want to hear from you: what has been your experience speaking English with locals in Austria?
[typeform_embed type="embed" url="https://thelocal.typeform.com/to/Mrx5MeO6"]
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.