Also question is, do they learn English in China?
One estimate (in 2007) of the number of English speakers in China is over 200 million and rising, with 50 million secondary school children now studying the language. Most schoolchildren are taught their first English lesson in third grade in primary school.
Also, how common is English in China? China, for one. Around 10 million people - in a total population of 1.3 billion - speak English. That's fewer than one in 100.
Furthermore, is English important in China?
The English language has become so important in China because the country wants to successfully promote internationalism and keep the lines of communication open for trade and business matters. As one of the global powers, it's in the country's best interest to keep afloat of shifting trends in international matters.
What countries require English to learn?
France, China and Israel require students to study English. I think Ecuador may also require it. Off the top of my head, there are probably quite a few former Soviet republics where the "national" language is official, but Russian is highly prioritized in school as a second language, and English is only a nice to have.
