Why Choose a British Native English Teacher rather than an American? (no, I’m not biased just because I’m English 😉​)

When I was working in Brazil, I noticed that practically all people who were learning English studied American English with an American teacher (if they opted for a native speaker—since there are some excellent Brazilian teachers of English) This makes perfect sense if you think about it: Brazil is much closer to the US than to Great Britain, and naturally there were more teachers of American origin available. As a result, a British English teacher was a bit of a curiosity and had a certain prestige​🤩​ (all modesty aside ☺️​) compared to an American one. Of course, the accent itself was highly sought after, although more difficult for them to handle. (It’s not for nothing the French say that to pronounce English correctly you need to have a hot potato in your mouth ​​🥔​ ​​​😬​)

In Europe, on the other hand, we are more used to encountering both British and American teachers (not to mention Australian and Canadian), as international business often requires working with people of different nationalities.

So, what are the different reasons?

Both offer excellent instruction. Here’s why you might opt for a British native English teacher.

1. Accent and Pronunciation

If you aim for a British accent, whether it’s our BBC TV pronunciation, Cockney (here they even have a sort of colloquial language called cockney rhyming slang ​​​​​🤪​ - good subject for another article ​​​​💡​) or another specific regional sound, a native British teacher gives you accurate models to copy. This can be especially useful for those planning to work, study, or live in the UK or other Commonwealth countries.

2. Vocabulary and Spelling

British English has its own set of words and spellings:

• Holiday (US: vacation)

• petrol (US: gas)

• colour (US: color)
  A British teacher naturally teaches these UK norms, which is helpful if you want to align with British communication standards.

For me, this British spelling is the correct one😉, although I’m sure an American would say the same thing about the US version ​​​​​​😀​

3. Grammar Differences

Some grammatical rules vary between the two varieties:

• Present perfect: I’ve just eaten (UK) vs. I just ate (US)

• Prepositions: at the weekend (UK) vs. on the weekend (US)

• Collective nouns: The team are winning (UK) vs. The team is winning (US)

4. Cultural Context

Language is more than grammar and vocabulary, it’s culture. Music, food (yes! Fish and chips, Christmas pudding, beans on toast, peas like golf balls with mint; only a British teacher can help you understand why we love these foods ​​​​​​😀​😋​) A British teacher brings idioms, humour, and etiquette from their own environment, helping you sound authentic and understand subtle references.

5. Exam Preparation

If your goal is IELTS, Cambridge English exams, or admission to a UK university, British teachers often have direct experience with the style and expectations of these assessments.

6. Listening Skills

Major international media outlets like the BBC use British English. Learning with a British teacher tunes your ear to these speech patterns, improving comprehension and confidence.

Bottom line: If you want to focus on UK English, culture, and certain exams—or simply prefer the British accent—learning from a native British teacher will give you the most direct path to your goals.

After that, the choice is of course personal preference. All teachers, whatever their nationality, should be most importantly, competent, motivating and empathic.

If you want to try a sympathetic, competent English English teacher with great experience TRY ME!! 😁