{"id":1220,"date":"2025-06-07T09:37:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T09:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/verbaperegrina.com\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2025-08-23T15:25:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T15:25:41","slug":"real-world-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/verbaperegrina.com\/en\/blog\/real-world-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Real World English: What Travel Taught Me About Language You Don\u2019t Learn in School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I moved to the U.S. at seventeen, I thought I spoke English. But what I quickly learned was that real world English<\/strong> is very different from what you learn in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day, I entered a store with my host family in North Carolina, and the shop assistant greeted us with, \u201cHow y\u2019all doin\u2019 today?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I just froze. Were they talking to me? All of us? Who exactly was \u201cy\u2019all\u201d? What were we doing? And what was I supposed to say back?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was one of the first moments I realised: English isn\u2019t just one language. It changes depending on where you are \u2014 and who you\u2019re talking to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, I\u2019ve travelled through and spent time in several English-speaking countries, picking up new expressions, accents, and little cultural surprises along the way. In Sydney, someone casually asked, \u201cHow ya goin\u2019?\u201d<\/em> and I had flashbacks to the American \u201cHow y\u2019all doin\u2019\u201d \u2014 still confusing. In the UK, people would say they were \u201cchuffed to bits\u201d<\/em> (which, surprisingly, is a good thing). And in Dublin, I was told someone was \u201cgrand,\u201d<\/em> though they didn\u2019t look especially tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing I quickly learned is that real world English<\/strong> isn\u2019t found in grammar books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes Real World English Different?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As an English teacher, I see a huge difference between what students learn in traditional courses and the kind of English they actually hear in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s one thing to learn the past perfect.
It\u2019s another thing entirely to know what to say when a colleague asks \u201cFancy a cuppa?\u201d<\/em> or when someone messages \u201cCan\u2019t make it, soz!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Verba Peregrina<\/a><\/em> \u2014 which means “wandering words” \u2014 I try to bridge that gap. I help learners move beyond just understanding grammar rules and start feeling confident using English in everyday situations, across cultures and contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Language isn\u2019t just about words \u2014 it\u2019s about people, tone, intention, and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the truth is, English changes depending on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n