According to a research conducted by prof. Bob Birrell in 2007, he cliamed that English proficiency of students in Thailand, South Korea and Chila fall below most Australian universities' standard. About a half of the students from the three countries underwent his examination and, he claimed, they would not have been atmitted to the place they are already hold or graduated.

Like would like to explore further on his interesting finding. Let's investigate through this issue using some statistical evidence as a guildance. These countries are all middle income countries. GDPs per capita are $3,737, $19,751, $2,461 for Thailand, South Korea and China respectively.
Human Development Indices (HDI) are 0.781, 0.921, 0.777. And Gini coefficients, measuring income inequality in a nation, are 42, 31.6, and 46.9. Gini coefficient 0 means perfect equality, like ideal communist state; while Gini coefficient 100 means perfect inequality where only one member hold total wealth of a nation and others have none.

Look at cultures in these coutries. China and South Korea are dominated by Confucious doctrine which emphasizes and rewards on diligent and education. While Thailand's main belief is Theravada Buddism aimming for nirvana or self-consideration.

These figures tell us something but not an insight. However, one thing they have in common is that they are all emerging economy with rapid growth in the past 20 years. The fast-growing economy in modern age brings many business people up into middle class. Another thing they have in common is a very high degree of nationalism and authoritity embedded in their cultures with some degree of collectivity as contrary to indivisualism found in western societies. That is, I have made my point why English proficiency of students in the three countries is so poor. What about yours?