that´s sort of true minfisken - absolutely true for younger people. I´d say probably from about 50 years of age and younger you can expect the person to know enough english to make herself tolerably understood :) 

nowadays we all at least learn english in elementary school, and nearly everyone goes on to secondary school where english is also a compulsory subject I think. and also with the internet and a very high percentage of movies and tv series being english spoken most people improve their knowledge on their own. but of course foreign languages don´t come equally easy to different individuals so some know more and some know less :)

And dont forget the young ones hwo play videoegames ^^

My little brothers son he is amesing with english omg !!
And yeah almost evryone understand and can speak and write english nowdays ^^

Thank both of you for the interesting opinions. I read about Swedish official website on study in Sweden. It said that English is very common language in Sweden. This is one of good things for people to go to universities in Sweden.

As in China, everyone needs to learn English too from primary schools. And now it starts 3 or 4 years old. My husband tried to teach English in one kindergarden. But you know, he quit after a while. Cause he does not understand for the babies, 2 or 3 years old, why they have to learn English when they even barely spead good mother language.

Even the kids here start to learn English very eariler and attend various kinds of English classes, they hardly speak English well.

Luckily, there are still more and more people can speak English well, even not everyone here. ;-)

but, it has been studieng that when u introduce small children with more then one language, that they is better on both in small ages. Well my english aint that good right now, hihi so hope you understand it

that early minfisken ? well I think I would have to agree with your husband! but maybe they do gain from starting to learn another language so early when they get older, but to me it seems it would be more important to the parents and the children themselves to focus on their own language and learn that well as early as possible without confusion and distraction!

anyway I think it´s just great that all the peoples and nations of the world are step by step becoming able to communicate with each other ! I´m certain this will eventually also lead to greater understanding and less agression between people from different parts of the world.

4#, of course I understand what you mean. That is good for kids to learn any languages as earlier as possible.

It is thundering outside now, i have to stop right now. I will write later.

Back again, thundering and lightening were gone.

5#, that is great to read about more understanding growing up with more contacts and more communications.

Thanks you guys, for your brilliant ideas on English learning.