There are phrases that stay with you.
Not because they are loud—but because they quietly shape how you see yourself.
For José Martínez, one of those phrases became the foundation of his latest book: Your English Is Great, But…
What sounds like a compliment often carries something more complex—something layered with assumptions about belonging, identity, and language.
VOZ NYC sat down with Martínez to talk about the story behind the book, the emotional weight of language, and what it means to live between cultures.
The Story Behind the Title
“Because most of us know what comes after the ‘but,’” Martínez says.
The phrase Your English is great… is familiar to many immigrants and bilingual individuals. While often intended as praise, it can feel like a subtle reminder of difference—of not fully belonging.
“It sounds positive,” he explains, “but it carries something heavier. It makes you question what people really mean.”
That tension is what inspired the book.
Growing Up Between Languages
Martínez describes his experience as one shared by millions—navigating life between languages, cultures, and expectations.
“I can’t point to just one moment,” he says when asked when he first heard the phrase. “It’s something you hear over and over. And each time, it lands differently.”
Language, in this context, becomes more than communication. It becomes identity.
“Language is memory. It’s culture. It’s how you connect to people,” he says. “But it can also become something people use to define your place in the world.”
From Journalist to Author
As a journalist, Martínez has spent years telling other people’s stories. Writing this book required a different approach.
“This time, I had to turn that lens inward,” he explains.
The result is a deeply personal narrative that blends storytelling with reflection—touching not only on language, but also on grief, family, and growth.
“There are parts of this book that come from very honest places,” he says. “It was difficult, but necessary.”
Identity Beyond Labels
At its core, Your English Is Great, But… is a book about identity—specifically, the complexity of living between worlds.
“I’m not just one thing,” Martínez says. “I’m shaped by where I come from, where I’ve lived, and the experiences I’ve had.”
For many readers, that idea will feel familiar.
“I used to feel like I had to explain myself,” he adds. “Now I understand that identity isn’t something you simplify—it’s something you carry.”
The Role of Grief and Growth
The book also explores themes of grief—something Martínez sees as essential to the story.
“Grief changes you,” he says. “It reshapes how you see life, your priorities, your relationships.”
By including those experiences, the book expands beyond language into something more universal: becoming.
Who This Book Is For
Martínez hopes the book resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between identities.
“Anyone who has felt ‘in between,’” he says. “Whether it’s language, culture, or identity.”
At the same time, he sees it as an opportunity for others to better understand that experience.
“It opens a window,” he explains. “Especially for people who haven’t lived it.”
Reclaiming the Narrative
If he were to hear the phrase today—Your English is great…—his response would be different.
“I’d smile and say thank you,” he says. “But internally, I’d know there’s so much more to me than that sentence.”
That perspective is at the heart of the book: reclaiming the narrative.
Not just about language—but about identity, belonging, and voice.
Final Thoughts
Your English Is Great, But… is more than a title—it’s a reflection of lived experience.
It challenges the way we think about language and invites readers to move beyond assumptions.
And in doing so, it creates space for something more honest, more complex, and more human.
📚 Your English Is Great, But… is available now.
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