When foreign learners of English first come to the British Isles, they are usually surprised, and often dismayed, to discover 1 little they understand of the English they hear. For 2 thing, people seem to speak faster 3 expected. Also, the English that most British or Irish people speak seems to be different in 4 ways from the English the visitor has learnt. While it is probably differences of pronunciation that 5 immediately strike them, learners may also notice differences of grammar and vocabulary. Their reactions 6 this experience will vary. They may conclude that most of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people that they hear do not – or even cannot – speak English correctly. In this they would find that many native speakers agree 7 them. They might even be told that, since learners of English 8 a foreign or second language have usually studied English in a formal way, they should know better than would native speakers what is ‘correct’.