About 50% of Ukrainians know English, but <5% know it decent enough to become a co-founder with English-speaking partners. This language barrier can significantly hinder the growth of startups, as effective communication and understanding of the global market are crucial for success. I have been speaking with many people, and nothing can impress me more than a person who is a master of language. I recently moved to India, and 90% of people here speak English daily, but a few have mastered it. When I meet such people, I feel that every word I say will be perceived and understood, not guessed.
In fact, I had bad English. I skipped all lectures and never paid attention to them. But once I realized their importance, it changed my life.
I believe that Ukraine needs to improve its English. In this article, we will try to figure out the root cause and a solution to the problem of bad English, which is causing Ukraine to have fewer startups. By improving English language education and accessibility, we can empower Ukrainians to participate more actively in the global economy, attract more international investments and partnerships, and foster a more diverse and innovative startup ecosystem in Ukraine.
Russian Speaking Internet is big enough.
Everyone speaks Ukrainian or Russian in Ukraine, and there is no third option. You will never meet someone who speaks another language unless you are at an airport or some international institution. Every Ukrainian is born with the ability to understand Russian, so when the time comes to browse the Internet, there is an infinite amount of resources in the Russian language, and there is no need to learn anything else. However, this reliance on the Russian-speaking internet can create a barrier to learning English, as the majority of content is not in English. Even though I have been in this trap, the Russian-speaking internet is almost as big as English-speaking, with videos and articles on everything.
While diving deeper, I realized that the Russian-speaking internet is not that infinite, and knowledge there is often out of date. Most of the great books I want to read were originally written in English. Most of the great YouTube channels and movies were originally cast in English. Most guides and technologies were originally created by the English-speaking community.
Nevertheless, the Russian-speaking internet is big enough to have Russian translations of books, movies, articles, and even YouTube channels. Russian-speaking game servers are close to Ukraine, and there are enough players to make gamers never leave the Russian-speaking bubble.
Russian invasion should change the perception of Ukrainians not only of Russia as a country but of the whole Russian-speaking internet, which is deep enough to serve as an informational bubble and a blocker for Ukrainians to learn English.
The school made me hate English.
English is a mandatory subject in school and college, but sometimes it can play the opposite role. Academic English made me hate this subject and the whole idea of learning English. Academic English makes it a subject of study similar to math and not a communication tool. Educators have to be very careful with how they organize classes. In my English classes, the most common activities were translating text, completing grammar exercises, learning new words, finding issues in the text, reading out loud, etc.
I am not a teacher, so I probably don’t know what I am talking about. Still, I believe there must be more debates, public speaking, storytelling, creative writing, brainstorming, movie watching, etc. I remember a day when our college English teacher gave us creative homework. She told us to prepare a 5-minute speech on any subject. I prepared a speech on gamification and demonstrated the card focus in the classroom. I believe that was the only homework I enjoyed doing, and it almost made me interested in doubling down on learning English.
I believe that the idea of mandatory English in schools and colleges is important, and we must continue doing that, but the approach can be improved.
Practice is expensive
Learning English is unaffordable and expensive in Ukraine. The average salary of an IT professional in Ukraine is about $400, I believe. An English learning session with a private tutor costs about $10. You need at least four sessions per month to learn something, which is 10% of your salary. This high cost can make English learning inaccessible for many Ukrainians, limiting their opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Many free theoretical resources can help you learn English, but practice is always the most expensive, and it helps you master the language. Practice English doesn’t require much preparation; a free croup on meetup.com or a casual dinner with friends will do it.
It is crucial for Ukraine to make English learning more affordable and accessible. The establishment of free English learning groups could be a significant step in this direction; it's a change we must initiate.
How did I master English on my own
At the age of 19, after becoming a software developer, I realized that I needed English, and it is the only most important skill I need to learn right now. It took me two years to master the language. I tried different methods, websites, and groups, but only a few of them were effective. In the end, I created a method that allows anyone to learn English for free if the person already knows at least the basics. This personal journey of mine demonstrates that with the right resources and dedication, anyone can learn English, regardless of their initial proficiency.
I summarize my method here; feel free to check it out: https://foil-millennium-d85.notion.site/How-to-Master-the-English-for-Freelancers-and-IT-specialists-b9ea47531ba743c489a6c626e98a3c83?pvs=4
Conclusion
When selecting a business partner, my first criterion is language. I can work with a freelancer or employee who may not fully comprehend me, but I cannot collaborate with a business partner who hasn’t mastered English. Mastering English is more than just understanding and expressing complex ideas; it's about being diplomatic and understanding the nuances of communication. Mastering English will open the doors for Ukraine to join the vast market of English-speaking startup communities, potentially increasing the number of startups.
For years, Ukraine has been occupied by the borders of the Russian-speaking Internet, and English has not been necessary. Ukraine is moving far from Russia, and the nation will understand that it needs to become a part of a more extensive Internet. I believe that the English-speaking Internet is the way to go.