Limited English Limits Your World

Living in Santiago has given me a whole new insight in what life is like for limited English speakers in the U.S.

When your language proficiency is limited, so are your choices.

When I first moved to Chile, I didn’t know any of the neighborhoods, how to use the metro, where to rent a car, or even if I would be able to drive with a U.S. license. I certainly couldn’t read contract in Spanish and wasn’t able to read websites to find an apartment. So, I got a place really near the Start-up Chile offices and co-working space. It was okay. I really wanted a bigger apartment, with a balcony, in a nicer neighborhood but I was limited in my ability to get around and to get information.

My Spanish is still far from perfect but I now know enough to get around the city on the metro without getting lost, to add more money on my metro card, correspond with someone about renting an apartment.

My new apartment doesn’t cost any more than the old one. What I was lacking was not money but knowledge. It’s still an issue every day. My apartment has a combination washer and dryer. It’s one of those weird ones that’s the…