What's it like to move to the UK?

Hello. I'm Gill at www.engvid.com and today's lesson is not really a lesson because we're

doing something a little bit different. We're having an interview with someone I know who

has come to the UK from another country and is living and working here. So, I'd like to

introduce Kamila, and we're going to ask her some questions about her experience of

coming to the UK and living here. So, let's get started. So, Kamila, thank you for coming.

Thank you for having me.

It's lovely to see you. You're very welcome. Thank you. And so, would you like to tell

us a little bit about yourself, where you're from, how you came to decide to come to the

UK?

Yes, so my name is Kamila. I come from Poland. So my first language is Polish. Before I arrived

in the UK I have lived in Warsaw for a couple of years. And so I worked there for a bank

for over seven years in corporate banking as Product Manager. And here in London I work

for a fintech startup. I'm a credit analyst of small companies. I really like my job.

I enjoy it. There is a lot going on there. My company is still developing, so I also

have opportunities to develop in diverse areas.

Okay.

So yeah, I'm really happy to be part of it.

Oh, that's good. So, lovely. So, "fintech", that means financial...?

Financial and technology.

Finance and technology.

Yes, exactly.

Used together for...

Yes, exactly.

Financial, for funding.

Yeah, because... Yeah, exactly. Because we lend money for small companies, but making

our credit decisions we use a lot of technology. We use some algorithms and so on, so that's

why fintech.

Okay, lovely. So, have you always spoken English? When did you first start to learn English

in your life?

Yeah, so I learned English in high school and during my studies. Also after I finished

my education I attended some English lessons in Poland where I was working there. And so

I felt that I understood quite a lot, but I had a fear of speaking because I think that

in my opinion teachers put a lot of pressure on grammar, which is good of course, but there

is... Because of that there is a little time for practicing speaking, so a lot of people

fear of speaking. They don't feel confident enough to speak. Yeah, and that was also my case.

Yes. I think I experienced the same when I was at school. It was... A lot of it was based

on written, and reading and writing.

Yes, exactly.

And exams, writing exams and the tests.

Yes, exactly.

So... So... So since then, do you feel that you...? Was it when you came to the UK that

you started getting more practice at speaking?

Yes, exactly. So, I feel that since I arrived here in the UK my English language skills

have improved. I feel more confident. So, yeah, I decided that first couple month I

would work on my English, so I read lots of newspapers, I watched some TV programs, I

watched some TV series with subtitles, and I also attended private English lessons with

great teacher.

Oh. [Laughter]

Who has also helped me not only to improve my spoken English, but also to... It gave

me some insight into English culture and politics sometimes, and everyday life, and things to

see in London, so I really enjoyed that and I would recommend it to everyone who...

Yeah.

Is thinking about moving to UK, for example.

Yeah, so I remember we... We've had a lot of very interesting conversations about English politics.

Yeah.

And about the culture and different types of food.

Yeah, yeah.

And all of that.

Yes, exactly.

So... So, did you ever come to the UK for a holiday before you came to live here?

Yeah, so it's a funny story because the first school trip abroad I took part in was to London,

I was 11 years old, but I can still recall some memories from this trip. For example,

my first impression was that there were lots of people walking along the pavement, so it

was really crowded. And also I saw a lot of people very smart dressed and it was a really

big surprise for me because then I lived in small city, so you know, that smart clothes

were designed for some special occasions, like wedding or something, and here I saw

a lot of people so smart, like dressed up, so...

Yes, being the capital city.

Yeah.

And where you come from, you're not from Warsaw originally.

Yes, exactly.

I don't think, so a smaller place.

Yes, exactly. So that's why the difference was so huge for me.

Yes. Oh, wow. Oh.

Yeah. So I also still have some photos and souvenirs from that trip at my parents' home.

I... But they are still, I think, available to buy here, and they are quite popular. Like,

this tin of candies in shape of red public telephone or something.

Oh yes, the red phone box.

Yeah, yeah.

Yes, with sweets inside. Yes.

Yeah, exactly. So I still have it.

Oh, wow. Amazing.

From that trip. Yeah.

Yes, yes, they're very popular souvenirs in the gift shops.

Yes, exactly.

Yes.

Yeah, so this, yeah, was my first time in London.

Wow. And so when you came to London at the age of 11, did you hear people talking and

did you understand what people were saying?

No, I didn't think so. I didn't understand at all.

No. So maybe at 11 had you already started studying English?

No, no I didn't. Because at first I learned German, and then I started English, so...

Right, and I think between German and English, there are some similarities, in vocabulary

there are similar words.

Yeah.

So the German probably helped.

Yes, exactly. It's easier when you learn one language, then to learn another I think.

Yes, yes, that's right. It's sort of... It's good for the brain, isn't it?

Yeah, exactly.

To learn languages.

The most difficult part is to start I think, then it's easier.

Yes, yes, that's right, and it's a very gradual building process, isn't it?

Yeah.

With language, just building vocabulary, understanding grammar, all of that.

Yeah, and then speaking.

And then speaking, that's right. So, when... When you... When you came to the UK to live,

what were your first impressions when you first came and, you know, settled in?

So I wouldn't say it was a shock, but my first impression was that London is like a melting

pot of different cultures, and languages, and nationalities, so I think that London

is so diverse that it's not very hard to feel here like home.

Right.

So people are very nice and friendly, and welcoming for foreigners. So, my husband and

I are also members of FOCUS, this is an organization made by expats for expats, and one of the

first events we took part in was presentation about Brits, and they recommended us one book

entitled, Watching the English, so I also read that book and it helped me to understand

English culture, and it helped me to avoid shock.

Yes. So "Brits" is a sort of short word for the British, the British people.

Yeah, exactly.

Brits, which is a sort of slightly jokey...

Yeah, exactly.

Name for people who are from Britain, so Brits, Watching the Brits.

Yeah, exactly. But to be honest, I have to admit that at first it was difficult because

it was hard for me to understand what exactly people were saying. Sometimes they were talking

too fast for me...

Yes.

And I had this problem that when I didn't understand single word in a sentence I didn't

understand the whole sentence.

Oh yes.

So, yeah. But then I started to watch some programs.

Yes.

And to read lots of newspapers, and it started to improve.

Yes. Oh, that's good because I think watching the television with subtitles on...

It helps.

Is a very good idea.

Yeah, exactly.

I do that, too, because I don't always hear what someone has just said.

Yes, exactly.

And sometimes you get some quite comic subtitles, they're not quite right [WELL THESE SUBTITLES **ARE** QUITE RIGHT!!],

and maybe it's a computer or something and the computer has misheard what the person said, and it's something

completely different. Especially on the live news programs.

Yes, exactly.

But it's a very good way of hearing the words and seeing them written at more or less the

same time, isn't it?

Yeah. Yeah. I think... I think that it helped me a lot. For example, I like BBC News because

the speakers, they are... They speak very carefully so it's easy to understand them.

I think it's a good way to start.

Yes, yes, definitely. So, in London, of course, as you say, there's a very wide diversity

of people with all of them from different backgrounds, different countries, so when

you hear people speaking they will all have different accents, even if they're speaking

English...

Yes, exactly.

They will be speaking English in lots of different accents.

Yes, exactly.

Did you find sometimes that someone's accent was not very...? You know, it was more difficult

to understand them?

I think that Italian people have quite strong accent that I met... I have already met a

lot of them and they are quite good in English, but they... Still, even if they have lived

here for many, many years I think they have still a very strong accent. I think also that

it's easy to recognize Polish people because our accent is quite strong also. But I think

that very different is also accent of Indian people, they are really good in English, but

again, the accent I think it's quite strong.

Yes. Yes. Yes. So... So, London is, as you say, a melting pot really.

Yeah, exactly.

So... And... And what about just the general culture, things like the weather, the food?

So, for me I was quite surprised because I expected more rain, but it hasn't been raining

so far a lot. So I had this impression that last year it was raining more in Poland than

in London, so I'm really happy about that. So it's funny because when we resigned from

our job in Warsaw, my husband got as a gift an umbrella.

Ah, I've heard of other people from Poland being given an umbrella as a gift before they

came to the UK.

Yes, exactly.

As a joke.

Yeah, exactly.

That's interesting.

Everybody... When people think of London, they think of rain and fog, and so on. But

it's not so... So bad. The weather is quite nice here.

So you think the rainfall level in London is lower, actually, than it is in Poland?

Yes. Definitely last year it was lower, but yeah.

Oh. [Laughter]

Yeah, so weather is not so bad.

No. I'm sure that umbrella has come in use, though.

Yes.

It's been well used probably by now.

Yeah, we have used it couple times, but not so many, so I'm happy.

Yes. That's good, that's good. And what about food, is there any difference between food

in Poland and the food here?

So, I think that here is big variety of food available, for example, in big shops there's

a lot of food because there's a lot of people from other countries, so they are looking

to buy something they know from their countries. So, yes, especially parts with vegetables

and fruits, for example, are very huge, and you can buy different vegetables from China,

India, and so on. So for me it was really interesting, and it's also very nice that

you can go to different restaurants here with the different cuisine. I like very Indian

food, for example, so there is also a lot of Indian restaurants here in London.

Yes, yes.

So, yeah.

So, do you have a favourite one?

Yes I have. I have to admit that. Oh no, I shouldn't say that. But yeah, my husband and

I, we have our favourite Indian restaurant, it is called Dishoom, it's... Yeah. The ambience

there is really nice, but the food is really good, and the service is very patient and

friendly. Yeah.

Oh. Oh, that's nice. And what about...? I think... Are you vege-...? Am I right, you're

vegetarian?

Yes.

But your husband isn't?

Yes, yes I am. But there are a big variety of food there, so everybody will find something,

food like meat or some seafood, or something.

Yes, oh, that's good.

It's really nice.

That sounds great. That's lovely. So, is there anything about the English language or the

culture that you still find difficult? Do you still feel you're struggling with anything?

In my opinion quite difficult are phrasal verbs because it's not easy to remember all

of them with their meaning, like for example...

No. There are so many.

Yeah. "Get in", "get on", "get out", "get off", "get together".

Yes. "Get through", "get around".

Yeah, exactly.

Yes.

So it would be easier to have separate words for their meanings.

Yes, yes.

But yeah, I think it's quite difficult. But also, interesting but sometimes confusing

can be to use some sayings because, for example, they have the same meaning but you have to

use different words to make them, like for example, like: "Two peas in a pod", translating

it directly from Polish into English, it would be like: "Two drops of water", so there's

a difference. So I think it can enrich your language, spoken language.

Yes, yes.

But yeah, you have to be careful.

Yes. So sometimes an idiom in one language, it may directly translate.

Yes, yes, probably there are some.

Other times it's a different, a different image.

Yes, exactly.

So instead of drops of water, peas... Peas in a pod.

Yeah, exactly.

So, okay. Oh, that's interesting. Yes. So, yes, and phrasal verbs, of course there are

hundreds. And whenever you put a different preposition with the verb it changes the meaning,

and even some phrasal verbs can have two completely different meanings, the same phrasal verb.

Yes, exactly.

Like: "to overlook", "overlook" is either not to notice something or to supervise something,

so it's completely the opposite. You know?

Yeah, exactly.

So it's weird. So that's English, you know. So... So what... What sort of advice would

you give someone who...? Someone who may be watching who's in another country, and they're

learning English through engVid, and they're working really hard and they're thinking maybe

of coming to the UK to live and work or study - is there any sort of advice that you'd give

them?

I would say: Go for it.

Okay.

Take your chance.

Yes.

So, yeah, I think that living in a country where people talk this language every day

and you have the opportunity to use this language on everyday basis, it's the greatest way of

learning it. You don't feel like you'll learn, but it's... By the way, you learn something

every day, watching TV, or talking with people, just talking with people, so...

Yes.

It's really... It's easier to learn when you live there. And so, yeah, I think at the beginning

especially it could be difficult if you're not perfect in English, but yeah, I think

it's a very good idea because after a while you will start to see improvement.

Yes.

And you will get satisfaction out of it, and yeah, I think it's a great idea.

Okay. So, just go for it, and come and absorb the language, and you don't even notice perhaps

sometimes.

Yeah, exactly.

That you're improving, but you are because it's so gradual.

Yes, exactly.

So, okay. Well, thank you very much, Kamila, that's been really interesting. Thank you

for coming.

Thank you.

And we wish you all the best with your ongoing stay here and your life here, and your work

and everything. So thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Kamila