[Sullen_Wind]

I'm 16 and I did my IGCSEs this year. I did qualifications that would be recognised in England because my parents knew we'd be moving to England for their work.

I'll be going to a sixth form just outside London to do my A-Levels. Will I fit in? Will people make fun of my accent? I'm from New York and my accent is pretty strong. This is the main thing that's worrying me

[The Marshall]

In British mainstream schools, perhaps. In collages? Yes, you would fit in.

[The Marshall]

And hey, I'm American as well!

[_Shmiley]

Most people will find it interesting. Loads of people will be new so no one will care :P


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Sullen_Wind]

(Original post by The Marshall)
And hey, I'm American as well!

Are you treated differently in the UK because of your accent?

(Original post by _Shmiley)
Most people will find it interesting. Loads of people will be new so no one will care :P


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Not that many people will be new though. I'll be going to a school with a sixth form, with like 95% of people at the sixth form who went to the school since year 7.

[throughthemonsoon]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
I'm 16 and I did my IGCSEs this year. I did qualifications that would be recognised in England because my parents knew we'd be moving to England for their work.

I'll be going to a sixth form just outside London to do my A-Levels. Will I fit in? Will people make fun of my accent? I'm from New York and my accent is pretty strong. This is the main thing that's worrying me

Yeah you'll be fine. In all honesty, I think most people will find you really interesting, purely because you're American.
And there'll probably be lots of new people so you won't stand out or anything.

[The Marshall]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Not that many people will be new though. I'll be going to a school with a sixth form, with like 95% of people at the sixth form who went to the school since year 7.

You will fit in as normal teenager would. No would mind of course, I remember going to a school where 99% of the people in my school knew each other since YR7. So it is hard to adapt in that nature. But you get used to it in the end.

[lmsavk]

You'll get a few people react with a giggle, but it's just another interesting side to a person. I like to know as many people as I can who are from different places around the world; you can ask questions/talk about their home country and it's always interesting - usually.

[wolf-pack]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Are you treated differently in the UK because of your accent?



Not that many people will be new though. I'll be going to a school with a sixth form, with like 95% of people at the sixth form who went to the school since year 7.

They'll probably just find you interesting and speak to you more- which can't be a bad thing as it will help you to make friends! Also, I doubt a lot of people will notice or care about where you have come from, my school is tiny with less than 400 pupils and I didn't even know there was an American in my year until he had left!

[The Marshall]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Are you treated differently in the UK because of your accent?



Not that many people will be new though. I'll be going to a school with a sixth form, with like 95% of people at the sixth form who went to the school since year 7.

No, I ain't treated differently due to my accent. I speak in my Southern accent, so they don't get a clue what I'm talking about.

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
I'm 16 and I did my IGCSEs this year. I did qualifications that would be recognised in England because my parents knew we'd be moving to England for their work.

I'll be going to a sixth form just outside London to do my A-Levels. Will I fit in? Will people make fun of my accent? I'm from New York and my accent is pretty strong. This is the main thing that's worrying me

You will always get people who take the piss, some in jest and some with malice. If it weren't your accent it'd probably be something else. Just ignore the dickheads.

[charco]

(Original post by The Marshall)
In British mainstream schools, perhaps. In collages? Yes, you would fit in.

Collages? Maybe in art school ...

[Chillaxer]

Britian is less and less distinguishable form the US as time passes, so yeah, it'll be easy.

[Sullen_Wind]

(Original post by throughthemonsoon)
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(Original post by Junaid96)
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(Original post by The Marshall)
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(Original post by lmsavk)
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(Original post by wolf-pack)
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Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

[somethingbeautiful]

We had an American who joined our 6th form and they instantly had friends - they were like a friend magnet! People will be interested because 99% of British 16 yr/olds watch American movies/tv shows/listen to American singers - our culture is saturated with it in a way that American culture isn't saturated with British movies/tv/singers. You'll be exotic and interesting to them just by virtue of your accent. You'll be fine .

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

No don't change!

Imagine an English kid going to an American school and suddenly changing their accent/vocab- it takes away their quirkyness. Stay quirky!!

[throughthemonsoon]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

They might find it weird, but they'll know what you mean since we watch so many American shows. You don't need to make the effort to change it I don't think, after a while living here, you'll probably adapt and start saying things the same way we do without noticing

[Above.The.Empyrean]

Depends what your BMI is, to be honest. The doors of English schools can be quite laborious to fit through.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

Don't worry, you'll get destroyed every time you use one so you'll learn very very quickly Pants is probably the most dodgy one

[wolf-pack]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

Saying pants instead of trousers might confuse some of the dimmer students but i'm sure saying elevator will be fine- most will probably just find it funny.

[The Marshall]

(Original post by Sullen_Wind)
Thanks a lot! Another thing that's worrying me is if I should change the words I use. Like I say math and not maths, chips not crisps, fries not chips, elevator, pants etc. Should I start saying these sort of words with the English pronunciations so people don't make fun of me saying stuff like that?

No, keep your accent the way it is, you don't need to change for the sake of it. If you were in countries like China or India, then yes, you'd probably have to learn the languages, otherwise, use our words, we say it more better then the English do.