Is It More Difficult To Learn English In Liverpool?

On first arriving in Liverpool, many international and Erasmus students are taken aback by the local dialect and accent. "This is not the English that we learnt in school", they say. "I thought that I had a good level of English, but I can't understand anything", is another common thing to hear.

So, is it more difficult to learn 'Liverpool' English? Quite simply, it is part of the language learning process. Grammar is standardised but language itself evolves over time and location. Colloquial language, better known as 'slang', can vary from city to city in any country. Slang often heard in Liverpool includes words like 'boss', 'bevvy' and 'kidda'. Listen out for these and more as they represent real everyday life, not a textbook acted out in the street. You won't necessarily find them in a dictionary and so it is important to throw yourself into the local culture. Make the effort to chat to local people to get to understand what these phrases mean. Only by listening carefully and asking questions will your language skills improve.

This is all very well, but am I learning a 'good quality of English' some might say? In short, you are learning authentic English which is far better than learning from a book or simply chatting with other international students. There is a marked difference in the language level, between those students who mix in and those who 'play safe' and stay within their comfort zone.

However, there must be a balance. One might argue that it is most important to be understood universally. This applies to international business and communication as well as in social situations. Moreover, in taking a Cambridge exam (PET, FCE, CAE, CPE) it is vital that you speak accurately, articulate your words clearly and display a good range of grammar and vocabulary. In your listening exams, most of the time you will hear a 'traditional' British accent known as RP (received pronunciation), as spoken by someone from Cambridge for example. For this reason, you might prefer to learn English you are more likely to hear and use which is easier to understand.

To conclude, learning English in Liverpool is a wonderful opportunity for any student to improve their language skills and get involved in the local culture but generally speaking it isn't easy. When you first move to live or work in another country you need your comforts and security and understanding the language is a big part of that.

I look to make life easier for you. With my private tuition you learn English in Liverpool with a native speaker from Cambridge who has lived in the city for over eight years. The flexibility of our courses and authentic nature of our teaching will not only improve your English but it will raise your confidence, motivation and awareness of the local culture. You will be equipped with the skills to go out in Liverpool, work in a business or take an exam. You will get to know other native speakers, not just international students. Above all, you will be given the opportunity to feel at home. No city does that better than Liverpool.