Super power doesn't mean military might and economic prowess alone.
Soft power such as culture and influence still go a long way. And last time I check, every 3rd world school still insist children to learn English, not Chinese.
People all over the world learn english as a 2nd language because english is the language of business. If you wanted to do business with someone in a different country then you would almost certainly need to conduct such business in english.
Military might does generally equal super power. The country could use their military to force changes on a country if they so desired.