The article outlines the learning initiatives of the countries with the English language High proficiency index. On the bases of this analysis the governments' actions that have led to a higher level of English proficiency in Germany, Hungary, Malaysia and Spain are highlighted. They include the establishment of Institute for quality development in education with the independent assessment; setting foreign language proficiency standards for primary and secondary schools; some projects on the development of the English language competences, the professional development of teachers, the introduction of bilingual instruction in classes; the optimization of the process of internationalization of higher education exchange of students and teachers. The laws and some important achievements in the field of teaching English in Ukraine are highlighted, namely: the results of teachers' participation in the international ESP project as a prerequisite of achieving excellence in the quality of ESP teaching.