An excuse to put a picture of House on my blog

I started a new class today, it's an adult class with 13 students aged from early 20s to about 60. They all seem lovely, and not just because they are in love with my accent. All of them want me to train them how to speak with a British accent. It's funny because I'm actually losing my accent and am frequently speaking more and more in an American accent. Sorry Emily it's true. It's not even conscious anymore. The reasons for this disgrace are threefold. Firstly when I arrived in Korea oh so many years ago I was specifically asked to teach American English and an American accent. A request which I actually ignored in the beginning but which leads on to the second reason: When I spoke to Koreans in my "beautiful" British accent (My student's words, don't shoot the messenger) they couldn't understand me. Actually when I spoke to Americans and Canadians they couldn't understand me either SO, I would have to repeat myself:

Me: "Could I have some water?" (read in posh British)

American: (blank stare)

Me: "Water" (read in Texan drawl 'cos that's my favourite American accent)

American: Oh! Water!!!

Me: Yes that's what I said.

So to save time I lengthened my vowels and didn't pronounce my 't's, instead I would pronounce the 'r'at the end of words which I would normally not need to bother myself with. This leads on perfectly to point 3. Because so many Americans and Canadians work here and because the majority of Koreans speak English with an American accent, my accent has become assimilated... I wonder if this has happened to Hugh Laurie too... I realised this today and want to reclaim it! I want to apologise for neglecting you accent. I will endeavour to treat you better.

Watch out Korea, the Amazon starts small but look where that ends up. First it's 13 students, before you know it I'll have the whole of Korea speaking English properly.