Proficiency in Spoken English (ENGP)
For each person who speaks a language other than English at home, this variable classifies their self-assessed proficiency in spoken English.
Responses to the question on proficiency in English are subjective. For example, one respondent may consider that a response of 'Well' is appropriate if they can communicate well enough to do the shopping while another respondent may consider such a response appropriate only for people who can hold a social conversation. Proficiency in spoken English should be regarded as an indicator of a person's ability to speak English rather than a definitive measure of his/her ability and should be interpreted with care.
Nevertheless, it is a useful indicator of the ethnicity of the population and for the planning and provision of multilingual services.
Proficiency in Spoken English/Language (ENGP01). This variable encompasses ENGP, and applies to all persons i.e. people who speak English only, as well as those who speak a language at home other than English.
See also Language Spoken at Home (LANP).
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