By In writing, I wrestle painfully with (this) language which I feel I do not possess but which possesses me—alas!
~ Joseph Conrad, Polish author explaining his struggles with the English language (his third language)
Portuguese is the fifth most spoken language in the world. But no language beats English in science, business, and art.
English has become essential both inside and outside academia.
In my context, English is the language everybody expects you to speak when you travel to conferences, write scientific publications, your own thesis, scientific proposals, letters to editors, collaborators, and reviewers. For academic creatures like me, there is no other language available. Either you learn how to express yourself in English, or you die trying. The end.