No matter where an immigrant may have lived, his or her education level, or how long he or she has lived in the country, learning American English is the single most important factor in adapting successfully to American society.
English is the language spoken in the United States and is the de-facto language, though it has not been officially adopted. It is among the most common languages spoken in the world and is the third-most common native tongue. It is the unofficial language of international commerce, business, technology, finance, science, medicine and education. The United Nations and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) rely on English to communicate with members of dozens of countries.
The dialects of American English are closer to each other than dialects of English spoken in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom. If an immigrant learns American English in the eastern part of the United States, such as New York City, he or she may use it to understand and communicate with people in any other part of the country.
From a socioeconomic perspective, learning American English helps the immigrant to assimilate into schools, workplaces and neighborhoods easily, which lays the foundation for higher wages and a better standard of living. The failure of immigrants to learn American English quickly, especially in large metropolitan areas, works to create roadblocks to understanding the local culture. Language barriers continue to be a source of tension, becoming an obstacle for even the simplest of exchanges, such as buying groceries or a meal from a street vender.
A concept paper by the Annie E. Casey Foundation suggests that the immigrants with a good grasp of English who have children arrested for juvenile offenses are better able to communicate with officials, thereby avoiding prosecution of their child.
Immigrants with a good to excellent grasp of American English stand a better chance of understanding local and national news, have improved access to educational publications and legal documents, and are able to engage in discourse with others. In other words, learning American English opens up a world of communication opportunities.