Speaking English in the US is not a small detail: it decides whether you handle things on your own or depend on other people all the time. You can get by with little English in cities with lots of Brazilians, but people who do that pay a price in money, time and independence.

You earn the trust of the people you talk to

When you express yourself clearly, people see that they can trust you: the bank manager, the landlord, the neighbor, your child's teacher. Speaking the local language shows that you care about being part of that place. People who can't explain what they want are often treated with more impatience, and even suspicion, without anyone meaning any harm.

You negotiate better

In any negotiation (salary, rent, a contract, the price of a service), the person who understands every word can ask questions, disagree and propose an alternative. The person who relies on an intermediary only gets a summarized version of what was said. Small differences in understanding turn into losses: a penalty clause that went unnoticed, a fee that wasn't clear, a verbal promise that never made it onto paper. If you run your own business, this translates into clients who sign, proposals that persuade and quotes that nobody questions.

You avoid the hassle of phone calls

In the US, a lot of things are handled by phone: health insurance, the electric bill, the bank, car insurance, booking an appointment. On the phone you can't point at a piece of paper or use gestures, and many calls start with an automated menu that asks for answers in English. Practicing phrases and vocabulary for these situations before your first call takes away a good part of the anxiety.

You take better care of yourself at the hospital and the dentist

Explaining a pain, understanding a diagnosis, reading the instructions on a medication and knowing what you're signing are situations where a misunderstanding can be serious. Many hospitals and clinics offer an interpreter, and it's worth asking for a trained professional instead of using a child or a friend, who may not know the terms. But having basic health English (parts of the body, symptoms, medications, insurance) makes the appointment go faster and with less risk.

You work better and serve clients better

At work, English opens doors to better jobs and to the conversation that comes before a promotion. People who serve customers in English, whether in a store, a cleaning service or a tech company, come across as more professional and lose fewer opportunities. Writing emails and messages correctly also counts: the first impression often comes in writing.

How to start without waiting to be perfect

  • Study everyday English, not textbook English. Start with the situations you'll face in your first week: the supermarket, the bank, the doctor, work.
  • Speak from the very beginning. Mistakes are part of it, and most people appreciate the effort.
  • Practice phone calls. Write a short script, rehearse it out loud, and then make the real call.
  • Take in English every day: shows, podcasts, news, conversations. Fifteen minutes a day is worth more than three hours once a week.
  • Study before you travel. Arriving with a base of vocabulary changes your first experience in the country.

English won't solve anyone's immigration situation on its own, but it's what makes everything else easier.