{"id":63,"date":"2015-10-30T14:07:50","date_gmt":"2015-10-30T14:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corporate.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/?p=63"},"modified":"2016-04-15T09:52:54","modified_gmt":"2016-04-15T09:52:54","slug":"my-real-life-uk-experience-first-impression-on-the-uk-language-and-culture-shock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/2015\/10\/30\/my-real-life-uk-experience-first-impression-on-the-uk-language-and-culture-shock\/","title":{"rendered":"My real-life UK experience: First Impression on the UK – Language and Culture Shock"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a number of different aspects in terms of culture, language, and people between UK and my country. I am going to mention about these followings:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Language shock: Mul-ti-lish is spoken here.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  2. New British words\/expressions.<\/li>\n
  3. Classmates shock.<\/li>\n
  4. Sarcasm: very British characteristic.<\/li>\n
  5. The United Kingdom: the country of multi-nationality with multi-culture.<\/li>\n
  6. ‘Doctor Who’ – one of the oldest TV programs that all generations in England know and love.<\/li>\n
  7. Bus etiquette and manners.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n

    1. Language shock: Mul-ti-lish is spoken here<\/strong><\/p>\n

    First and foremost, the most obvious and easy-to-see difference between the UK and Vietnam is the language (English vs. Vietnamese). English is spoken in every place at any time while it is not commonly used in our conversation back home. However, what was shock to me is there are not only American English and British English that I have learnt. In truth, I have found various versions of this lingo, such as Singlish, Chineselish, Indianlish, and even Vietnameselish. It appears that I am hearing mul-ti-lish and many are indeed quite hard to comprehend.<\/p>\n

    After all, it is still a wise choice of mine to study in South of England where understandable accents are spoken (except for one particular person). If you are to choose Wales, Ireland, or Scotland for your study, GOOD LUCK!<\/p>\n

    2. New British words\/expressions<\/strong><\/p>\n

    TO LET<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    I am thrilled to talk about my first impression on the UK. Quite embarrassed, though.<\/p>\n

    On the way from Heathrow Airport to City Gateway Halls at Southampton, I saw lots of signs on the street saying \u2018TO LET\u2019. They seem to be all over the place. I first did not understand \u2018To let\u2019 means \u2018To rent\u2019 (very British). Literally, it is what it is. Instead, I thought there was a letter missing, which is \u2018i\u2019. (I bet several of you would think the same when reading the title of this point). Consequently, my first impression on the UK is this country is toilet-friendly<\/strong> as there were so many toilets offered on the street. How silly I am!<\/p>\n

    \"12096059_10153573055222707_1980295321271255937_n\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    BRILLIANT, LOVELY, SUPER, FAB (FABULOUS)<\/strong>, CHEERS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    While American always use \u2018awesome\u2019 \u2018amazing\u2019<\/em> to express their feeling, the British use \u2018brilliant, lovely, super, fab (fabulous)\u2019.<\/em> \u2018Cheers\u2019<\/em> is not only used when toasting but also means \u2018Thanks\u2019. It appears that I automatically start to use these words when seeing something nice: \u201cOh, brilliant\u201d <\/em>or \u201cOh, lovely to see you here\u201d, \u201cThat\u2019s super nice\u201d. \u201cI AM SUPER CUTE\u201d <\/em>and I know it. <\/em>Have I become more British?<\/p>\n

    EXCUSE ME, I\u2019M SORRY, PLEASE<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Those are the most common British words being heard since I am here. I feel like the people sometimes say more than they need to. \u00a0Given they do not do anything hurt me. In fact, \u2018Excuse me\u2019 is a polite way I have learned if I wish to initially talk to strangers on the street in order to ask for direction for instance, or \u2018I\u2019m sorry\u2019 is used when somebody thinks that they are blocking my way\/view (they are sometimes actually not!).<\/p>\n

    HELP YOURSELF<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    It is said when I am offered the food and the asking person wants me to feel free to eat whatever food I like or even the one on their plate \u2013 I should \u2018serve myself\u2019.<\/em> When I first heard it, I did not understand it at all \u201cWhy do I myself need help?\u201d<\/em>. Now I know it means \u201cPlease take what you want without asking permission\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

    ARE YOU OK?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    First time when being asked \u201cAre you OK?\u201d<\/em>, I reacted a little uncomfortably by a series of silly questions \u201cWhy are you asking me that question? What do you mean? Do I look tired or sick? What made you think I am not OK?\u201d<\/em>. I soon realised that it is simply a greeting phrase and similar to \u201cHow are you\u201d. \u201cI am fine\u201d <\/em>is one of the responses I am supposed to say. As an alternative, if the person is close enough, I can tell them how my day has been. It could be either bad or good as that question\u2019s purpose is to initiate a conversation.<\/p>\n

    THE LOO<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Another British word such as \u2018the loo\u2019 (means restroom, toilets, bathroom) has been added to my new British word list.\u00a0 It is very British as neither said in the US nor Canada.<\/p>\n

    \"IMG_0803\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    3. Classmates shock<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The first question popped up in my mind when I attended my first class and looked around: \u201cWhere am I studying?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Definitely, its answer is I am in the United Kingdom. Before coming here, I had expected to have local classmates. Ironically, none of my classmates are British, or there are but I have not met them. There are ninety (90) members in my class and all are international students from all over the world. I am pretty certain you know which population outnumbers the others.<\/p>\n

    I have seen a number of Chinese and Chinese things here, even mooncakes. Sometimes, I wonder if I am in China? This is not really a bad thing as Chinese food and ours are somehow similar. Therefore, it makes me easier to find the familiar cooking materials that please my BIG stomach.<\/p>\n

    My first assumption is it is less common for British to earn the Master and PhD degree after getting their Bachelor. Since they have been financed by student loans or in the other words, they have been in big debt (as the tuition fee is super<\/em> high), they are more likely to start earning money right upon their graduation. Additionionally, I suppose it is probably because the Undergrad Programme provides enough knowledge and skills for them to get ready for work. This is quite as reasonable a supposition as the educational system here is on top of the world (that is why I chose to come here and am proud to be its current student). Finally, be that as it may, I have observed from my peers in my university, there are other possibilities: British are more likely into either non-business courses, for instance, Philosophy, Engineering, Social Science (where less international students are enrolled), or doing part-time postgrads due to work or family commitments.<\/p>\n

    It is interesting, isn\u2019t it? So if you wish to have local classmates, go for the courses I just mentioned above.<\/p>\n

    Ngoc Nguyen<\/strong><\/em>
    Chevening scholar<\/strong><\/em>
    Vietnam<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    There are a number of different aspects in terms of culture, language, and people between UK and my country. I am going to mention about these followings: Language shock: Mul-ti-lish is spoken here.\u00a0 New British words\/expressions. Classmates shock. Sarcasm: very British characteristic. The United Kingdom: the country of multi-nationality with multi-culture. ‘Doctor Who’ – one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[2,3],"class_list":["post-63","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international-scholarships","tag-chevening","tag-scholarship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/10\/The-Loo.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions\/103"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/blog\/internationalvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}