BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 04:32 PM

Reemember, just because someone is not friendly, it doesn't necessarily mean they are unfriendly. This is the country where people say such things as "They were really good neighbours. You'd never have known they were there."

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Alba
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 04:17 PM

No tips AllanC, just be yourself, that way you shall be Special, Unique and Different! Best Wishes to you and to Morticia. I wish you both nothing but Happiness.
I am a Scot so like Giok, I will not forward any advice regarding England or Her Culture but then as also stated previously, you have a very good Live In Teacher where your going so I think you will fair well in the advice department!!! If however you both decided to go North of the Border I would be delighted to pass on some Cultural Pointers..*BG*...
Be Well, Be happy and I wish many Blessings for you Both.
Ain't Love Grand!:>)
JD
Oh and Mc Vities Digestives are definetly a Graham Cracker replacement..in fact they are much better!

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: gnomad
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 04:13 PM

By all means try to understand the English, but don't try to be English, we've got a whole set of islands full of assorted Brits, and most of them are English in the broadest sense.

I'm sure your own cultural identity will be far more interesting, exotic even, to the people you meet. You will also be more natural, and nobody will assume you are taking the p*** out of us.

If you do get to understand us please write a guide book; we don't understand ourselves as a rule and it would surely sell like mad.

Welcome aboard, I hope your stay is a happy one.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Morticia
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:43 PM

I've lived here most of my life and I still don't really understand the English although I've got tea down pat ( the Irish do it better anyway), kind of know the squire from the bagman and have a loose idea about translating geordie ....just don't ask me about cricket.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: jacqui c
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:41 PM

The most important thing you will need to know is where to meet fellow Mudcatters and folk groups. If you already have a guide go with them, otherwise I'm sure if you give your location there will be plenty of invites to local sessions. We are, despite rumours about our reserve, actually quite hospitable on the whole. It's also a way of learning the local culture, which, as in the States, varies widely from area to area. Don't listen to Greg - we're not all football fanatics and, as a foreigner, you'll be forgiven if you don't have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game. As for forgetting about folk - Greg, wash your mouth out!!!

Welcome to England Alan - may your stay be a long and happy one.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:40 PM

Change your name from Allan to Alien

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:37 PM

Search for thread titles: "British-American cultural differences" 1, 2 and (at least) 3. Can't copy and paste at the moment, so I don't give the links.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: MudGuard
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:36 PM

Allan,

what in US is called 2nd floor, is 1st floor in UK.

And in GB, they don't drive on the right side of the street, they use the wrong side ;-)

Have a good voyage!

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:27 PM

MMario is correct, McVities digestive biscuits are the nearest equivalent to Graham crackers (and IMHO a superior product).

When in Britain, try not to refer to well known cities followed by their country, e.g. do not talk about "Paris, France" or "Madrid, Spain" and especially not "Glasgow, Scotland". The assumption is that everybody already knows knows where these cities are.

Best of luck and welcome to Britain.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:18 PM

I should have mentioned, there is no ham in Burmingham or war in Warwick.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:15 PM

I've heard that 'digestive biscuits' may be a semi-acceptable substitute for graham crackers.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:10 PM

There was an very helpful thread on this.

It gave excellent advice to visiting Americans such as, "Ignore those rumours they might have heard about people driving on the left in this country", and "Never tip a taxi-driver or waiter, because they would be mortally insulted"....

(And there was an equivalent thread for visitors to America.)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:08 PM

well, you sure need to learn a LOT of interesting colloquialisms and spellings *grin*...'butties' are NOT small cheerleaders, and may safely be nibbled!...At least you will have a live-in teacher who can help you adjust..*smile*

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:07 PM

Learn about football, forget about folk. Use really boiling water to make tea. If you find someone drinking beer, do not offer to pray with them to help them address their problem. That's about it, really.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:01 PM

Surely the election of Arnie is not so much of a disaster that you're leaving the country?
I can't tell you anything about learning to be English, as I'm a Scot and therefore feel that it's not a fit subject for discussion. *BG*

Giok

Subject: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Allan C.
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 02:50 PM

I'll be leaving the States in a very few hours to begin a new life in England. What with all the foreigners I'll be encountering there, I thought it might be prudent to ask the Mudcat for pointers on learning the language and tribal customs. (For instance, I've just learned to my horror that they don't have graham crackers there!) I'm sure we have had a few threads on some of the aspects of this challenge. If anyone remembers some of them, please post some clickies here.

Thanks,

Allan