Only 1% of Brazilians Speak Fluent English. Here’s Why It Matters

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to a recent survey by the British Council, just 1% of the Brazilian population speaks English fluently. Those who speak English, but are not as advanced, make up 5% of the population.

This information is quite worrying since it is already known that the highest positions in companies are held by professionals fluent in this official language of the business world.

According to a survey conducted by the professional representation website Catho, workers who speak English fluently can earn a salary up to 61% higher than those who do not have this qualification. But it’s not just professionally that English directly impacts our lives.

The language enables experiences that promote personal and cultural growth, such as exchanges (fluency in the language is not required in these cases, but it is beneficial) and the consumption of products and services of international quality. Those who read in English can access books published only in the United States. Cinema lovers can consume movies that do not even have Portuguese subtitles. In other words, more freedom in leisure time as well.

IS IT DIFFICULT TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

According to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a minimum of 500 hours of instruction is required to reach the intermediate level of English. It can also take 1,200 hours to become fluent in the language.