Taipei's English-language environment is better than elsewhere in the nation, but English services in the capital's service industries should be improved, a survey found yesterday.
The poll, conducted by the city government's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, interviewed 300 foreign visitors and residents last October and November and found that 83 percent of foreign visitors and 66.4 percent of foreign residents were satisfied with Taipei's English-language environment, compared with the nation's overall approval rating of 36 percent.
English in hotels and restaurants received the highest approval rating of 78 percent from foreign residents and 65 percent from visitors, while the English-speaking ability of taxi drivers was rated the least satisfactory at 29.5 percent from residents and 18.7 percent from visitors.
The police department did not fare much better. It received 34 percent from residents and 25 percent from visitors.
The survey measured satisfaction with the English environment in transportation, tourism and leisure, shopping and consumer affairs, hotels and restaurants, mass media, educational and cultural institutions, medical services, police relations and government agencies.
Both visitors and residents gave the city's tourism, leisure, shopping and consumer sectors "failing grades" of below 60 percent.
Survey author Huang Rong-hu (黃榮護), an associate professor in administrative management at Shih Hsin University, said respondents complained about confusing addresses and taxi drivers who couldn't understand basic English.
"They also suggested that hospitals and tourist attractions should train more volunteers with English-speaking abilities," he said during a meeting at city hall yesterday.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) acknowledged that there were shortcomings in the city's English-language environment and promised to improve it, including further consistency in road signs and MRT stations using pinyin Romanization.
To improve the English-speaking skills of the city's taxi drivers, the Transportation Department said it began offering free English conversation courses at the Taipei City Driver Training Center last year.
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