Gen Z’s English Dominance, Yet Millennials Maintain Mastery

The rise of “keminggris” in Bahasa (a term coined for the fondness for all things English) among Gen Z can be attributed to their upbringing in the digital age. From an early age, they’ve been exposed to foreign languages through gadgets and the vast expanse of social media.

Yoshua Yanottama, Head of Learning Labs at Edtech Cakap, sheds light on Gen Z’s involvement in global cultural exchanges through myriad channels. Beyond the realms of social media, platforms such as gaming, forums, and various online pursuits expose them to the nuances of English. “English reigns supreme as the lingua franca of the internet. It’s a trend that bodes well for Gen Z,” according to Yoshua.

Yet, in spite of this linguistic whirlwind, research from a global language institute reveals a surprising twist: a decline in English proficiency among Gen Z, a stark contrast to their outward enthusiasm. A report from the Education First Proficiency Index in 2023 unveiled a drop in language skills among 18-20-year-olds (born 2003-2005), while the generation above them (millennials) showed improvement.