How do Americans respond to English People?

Question

Im thinking about going to university in America and was wondering if an english person has experienced this and knows how they would respond to me as soon as they hear my accent. Would I be kind of an outsider or would I just fit in with everyone else. What kind of things would they ask me about or talk to me about.

Answer 1

i think most americans are open, friendly and accepting people. most americans are decended from immigrants. i say, just be yourself and don't try too hard.

Answer 2

We have similar questions... only in reverse:) I'm visting my English friend in may, who was over here in the states last summer.

My friend, Hugh, had a really great time here. He and his girlfriend came over to work at summer camps last summer. She was working at a camp near NYC and he was working at my summer camp, in Wisconsin.

I would say at first Hugh was a little... overwhelmed. The people he was working with at our camp (like me) are all very energetic and friendly- more than he could handle at first. Americans as a whole are energetic and friendly, but the ones you will meet will probably be a normal level of that, not a camp counselor level of that :)

He got a lot of odd questions, namely from the kids we work with. Most americans are very intelligent (despite what the media may portray) and know a lot about England and Europe. Kids... maybe not so much. One girl asked if he had met the queen, and another fully believed he was royalty of some sort.

On the whole, you will probably be asked where in England you're from, how you like the USA, how are things different back home, what you miss, etc. You'll probably be asked to pronouce words that are drastically different (even spelled different), like "Alluminum" and "Color (colour)." He was also astounded by the portion sizes at restaurants, and the fact that nearly every american over the age of 16 has a driver's liscense.

It may get annoying for you, but people only ask because they're interested and in some places do not often meet a person from another country. Like the last poster said, women LOVE an english accent. Seriously. The bars will be a, er, great experience for you. Also, like the last poster mentioned it really depends on where you go in the states... it's a very large country with an extreme amount of diversity.

In short, by in large, Americans LOVE the English... or anyone from the british isles for that matter. You'll do very well. I hope you enjoy your time here! And if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to email  me at [e-mail].

Answer 3

I am orginaly from the U.K. and I moved to the United States several years ago to study for my undergraduate degree before moving onto law school.

From my experiences, I have found that the American people will be both intrigued and curious about you. You will certainly not be considered an 'outsider' in any way, shape or form, in fact you will actually be welcomed and have many different questions thrown at you, some will be serious, some joking and others just plain stupid.

During my time here I have been asked various questions regarding my accent, where I am from, do I know such and such a person, do I like such and such thing. You will get people who even try to guess certain things about you, mimic an English accent or even try to tell you some 'interesting' facts they have learnt or to ask clarification - "Is it true that..."

At first it is rather amusing but at times, expecisally if you are shopping, standing in line or the check out and they ramble on, it does become tiresome when all you want to do is leave and head back to the car but as I said, they are just curious and being polite and friendly. You will of course get the usual jibes and p**s-take banter, even more so around the 4th July - but just take it on the chin and dish it back out because for the most part, it is just a bit of a fun and laugh.

Don't worry it will never go away, even after several years here I still get asked the same questions by strangers on the street and the check-out clerks. Plus I still have all the old jokes directed at me by the in-laws and the accent mimiced - but at the end of the day, just laugh, knowing that they really do know sweet-FA.

(The last sentance was said in jest - so don't get offended)

Answer 4

Come on over!  Ya'll are welcome over here.  I work with a englishman from some where in england, I don't remember where, and its cool.  nice guy, talks funny though.

Answer 5

You'll be the cool English kid everyone wants around. They'll try imitating  your accent. They'll ask you stupid questions like have you read any Harry Potter books or have you met the queen.

You can counter them my imitating  their accents and asking them if they owned slaves and telling them just why American football sucks. Give it a week or two and they'll forget that you're English and like you or hate you for being you.

Answer 6

You won't have a problem. In fact, at first, your fellow students will be *facinated* by you. And to be entirely honest and quite frank, American women love a British accent, so if you... erm... anyway, you catch my meaning.

In very short time, you'll fit right in, no problem at all. It's just when you're new that people will note the accent and may comment on it, or ask you questions. And how much they note the accent depends on where you are in the US, and how many other immigrants there are in that region. For example, in NYC, your accent would be a touch less unusual that it would be in Broken Bow, Nebraska.

You probably won't get may questions about UK politics, since there's not a lot of news about that here. Instead, you may be asked about popular culture: what's the school system like in England, what do you think of the US, have you ever been to Cardiff and if so, have you seen the Torchwood set, etc. Sorry, that last question is a bit silly, but if any of your fellow students watch any British tv shows, they may ask you about them.