In the beginning, the language was only used when necessary for trade and administrative dealings, but was later used in education. Back then, only educated people, poets and government officials spoke English.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and English has become a global language. It is very hard to escape the language, as English is often required in both professional and personal life. Between the fast-paced wave of globalization and the surge of internet content in English, one could think that most people do not have any significant difficulties in using the language.

But this theory was recently proved wrong by users who posted nearly 20,000 tweets on “TOEFL 550”.

It all started when an accounting professor at Bandung’s Padjadjaran University asked why Generation Z found it difficult to score 550 on the TOEFL when English learning resources were everywhere nowadays.

That was when complete mayhem broke out. Thousands of threads were created to refute the original tweet. Many argued that more exposure did not necessarily boost one’s TOEFL score, as exposure usually consisted of conversational everyday English while the TOEFL primarily tested grammar.

Some also argued that the problem with the lack of English proficiency was caused by the inadequate standard of English classes in the formal education system, unequal distribution of learning resources and various forms of distraction.

While the discussion seems to have narrowed into a debate on whether it was fair to expect zoomers and millennials to pass the TOEFL, the point that more resources are available for learning the language remains valid.

So, what is the core problem? Are the supposedly abundant resources actually scarce in reality? Or are people having a hard time accessing those resources online? Or is it that people are simply refusing to learn English altogether?

Compared to decades ago, when people had to buy textbooks or visit public libraries to understand the terms and meanings in an English sentence, the internet of the present day is a utopia filled with the supreme joy and perfect triumph of English. A perfectly written essay or the definitions of words is just one click away when you’re connected to the internet, with help available in grammar checkers and online dictionaries.

People today are connected to the internet every waking minute. The majority of younger generations have no problems with learning new things online, such as managing their social media and creating interesting content. This shows that the internet has become a rather effective medium for most people to learn new skills.

Then why is learning English becoming less appealing?

In some sense, it is insensitive to assume that all Gen Z members enjoy the same luxury of having ample time to learn English.

Those with financial restrictions may prefer to take on part-time jobs or learn other skills that may generate money than learning English.

Mastering a language requires a lot of consistent training, including practicing speaking or writing the language. However, some may have issues with their confidence when it comes to practicing English in daily life. Some are afraid of harsh criticism or bullying whenever they try to speak the language. Even in the most basic forms of practicing the language, like making captions, some decide to simply insert an English quote they have gotten from the internet instead of actually trying to compose something in their own words.

On the other hand, Google Translate and other English learning tools could be having some negative impacts. Mastering the English language requires learners to go the extra mile to understand sentence structure, grammar, word choice and many other linguistic elements. The problem is, people tend to take English learning tools for granted.

The internet is a wonderful place full of information, but it can be a double-edged sword. It can help you stay afloat in an otherwise sinking ship, but it can also be the very thing that sinks the ship in the first place.

The ability to practice using the language is also greatly influenced by one’s environment. People who are surrounded by supportive colleagues will feel comfortable about continuously practicing the language. Many people who are easily able to navigate English conversation or writing do not come from formal courses, but from organic English-speaking communities like student organizations, debate clubs and book clubs that use English as their primary language.

The complexity of the English language can be untangled only with the commitment to learn and a willingness to undergo trial and error. English proficiency is a coveted goal, but there should not be a blanket expectation for everyone to achieve a certain standard of fluency.

Both writers are former participants and organizers of English debate competitions, now pursuing respective careers in medicine and law