If you are an Irish citizen, you have the chance to explore life anywhere in the European Union. Traditionally, the Irish have headed off to Britain, but Brexit has thrown some cold water on that plan. Yes, you probably can still go to Britain, but what about your other options? Language is a big barrier for the rest of the EU. While you’d have to a reasonable degree of fluency in an official language to get a job and deal with officialdom wherever you go, you can find places where English is spoken enough to make life there easier.
English is an official language in the Republic of Malta. Maltese is the first language, and Italian is widely spoken. If you fancy life on a much warmer island and would like to swap the Atlantic for the Mediterranean, Malta might suit you. And with more tourists than residents on the island, you should have no problem surviving without fluent Maltese.
The Netherlands has a lot more to offer than weekend city breaks in Amsterdam. In addition to their internationally beloved unique baked goods, they have delicious cheese and bread. Not to mention the fields of tulips and the flat, well-maintained bike trails. Some estimates suggest that 90% of the population has some basic English fluency. Other sources put the figure at 38%. Perhaps the difference is explained by the level of fluency. But at any rate, 38% is still more than one in three people.
Speaking English in Scandinavia
Sweden is another less-than-obvious option. According to various sources, between 54 and 86% of Swedes claim some level of English fluency. If you find yourself hanging out in Ikea just to soak up the design vibe and visit the café, maybe you’d enjoy life in Sweden. Sure, it’s even colder than here, but they have snow instead of rain.
Denmark’s population is at least half people who can speak a reasonable amount of English. Some estimates say that 86% of the population speaks English well. From Lego bricks to Dogme cinema, Denmark has been quietly influencing our leisure activities for generations. Denmark was also the first country in the world to grant legal status to same sex couples.
In any country, you’ll find the greatest concentration of English-speakers in big cities, around universities and where there are tourists. Jobs aren’t guaranteed anywhere, and each of these countries has their own bureaucratic and cultural barriers. But the lack of fluency in a foreign language needn’t clip your wings, especially if you are willing to learn one. And you should be able to cope with daily life in these four countries while you are learning.
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