It can often be quite difficult to understand what people are saying to you in London. English people sometimes have a strange way of trying to communicate, especially if they are not used to meeting people from other countries. In England, we often joke that English people talk more slowly and louder if you don't understand them. Has this ever happened to you?

Never feel bad about not understanding what someone says to you in English. Remember useful phrases to help you out of trouble:

“I'm sorry, could you say that again please?”

And if you still don't understand, you need to say something like:

“I'm really sorry, but I still don't understand.”

If you are still having problems understanding, you can maybe ask

“Could you say it a different way?” or

“Could you use a different word?”

Some people speak very quickly, so a phrase to slow them down, like “Can you speak more slowly please?” can be useful.

It’s usually much better to keep on asking, than to misunderstand what someone says to you, because you might do something wrong, go the wrong way, etc. This is particularly important if you are working in a company, or you are in a situation which could be dangerous.