How Important is English to a South American?

Today I’m featuring an article written by Luciana Coscione, who actually lives in Argentina. She’s going to tell us why English is so important in South America.

Nowadays, speaking English is a must in South America, and learning English online is a great way to go.

It’s true that Spanish is widely and increasingly spoken all over the world but we always need to be able to communicate in a second language. And English is the most suitable option.

Whether we like it or not, English is the language of Globalization. Even in Argentina, we interact in English when we:

• Surf through the internet
• Listen to music
• Watch a movie, or one of those sitcoms we are fans of
• Read the instructions on shampoo bottle or how to use a new cellphone
• The list goes on...

When we are abroad either on vacation or as a part of a business trip and we need to get a taxi. Oops! How do I explain to the cab driver that I want to go to the cheapest store in the city? Or buy the latest cellphone model that is much cheaper than in my country?

Or how do I ask “where is the Eiffel Tower?", or "where is the Vatican?" or "where is Charles' Bridge?" or "How can I get to the Parthenon?”

How can I communicate with them if I don’t speak French, Italian, Czech or Greek? I mean I can’t learn all the languages in the world. I‘d need at least 2 or 3 lifetimes to do so. Instead I can learn English and be sure that people will understand me almost everywhere I go.

Now, on a more formal level, at least in South America (but I’m almost sure it’s the same everywhere) English is not the language of the future anymore...it is the language of the present.

We all have to be fluent in English to get a good position, not only in multinational companies but anywhere. Besides, it’s not enough to say that you speak English in order to get a job, you have to prove it! Your skills will probably be tested!!

Even when we don’t need to use English on a daily basis, employers figure that most scientific, specialized, and technical information is available in English and isn’t in Spanish. Therefore it is getting increasingly important to hire employees with fluency in English.

It’s undeniable: English is the “reference” language. Even in the most remote regions of South America, where the majority of the inhabitants are Indian, English is being taught at school as a tool of communication. How can that be possible?

Because many of those little towns live off tourism and most of the tourists come from abroad...and guess what language they speak? Exactly! They speak English! Or at least they know the basic English commands.

Learning English doesn't have to be a chore. Along with being quite rewarding, learning English online can be quite fun. Read our reviews of the best English teaching websites.