Trouble Understanding New Boss?

Question

I just got hired on to a local gas station through a friend that I had worked with at a previous job and I had my first night tonight. The manager happens to be Pakistani and can speak English well but has a very strong accent. How would I go about telling him that it is hard for me to understand him without coming off as a complete jerk? I can fill the gaps in a little bit but, I don't want to do the job wrong simply because I can not understand him. I have only been there one night so maybe after a bit I can understand him more. Any thoughts on the matter?

Answer 1

I'd be careful of using Chris's idea. You'll just end up with a Pakistani with a very thick accent screaming at you.

Then you will have a hearing problem.

Answer 2

you won't be the first person they have run into that can't understand them...

just be honest - I'm sorry, I'm working on it but I'm still not used to your accent yet - what did you just say?

Answer 3

I worked with a mexican for awhile, and you eventually get used to their accent. However, I'd tell him that your hearing sucks and that you cant understand him sometimes.

Always blame yourself, so he wont feel bad. The goal is to get him to understand your problem and help you with it.

Not to get him to change how he talks.

Same result, different way of approaching it.