Things I am tired of hearing as an international student

I understand that most of the time these things aren’t being said out of bad intentions, quite the opposite – to compliment, or just to keep the conversation going, but I am sure almost anyone can find better things to talk about (with someone you just met too) than the level of my English or other international students you know. This is not for the faint-hearted so if you can’t stomach criticism or more accurately suppressed anger that I have been holding in for almost 3 years now, move on.

For context – I am from Lithuania and started uni in 2020, meaning I still got to use the benefits of UK being in EU.

• Your English is…/Where did you learn English?

Let’s start with an international favourite. This might sound arrogant or narcissistic, but I am just tired of people expecting me to have a non-understandable accent just because I am not from here. ‘You’re English is so good’ sends me to another level of rage. I’ve been learning English since I was seven years old, not to mention that some international students have finished IB programmes before coming to university abroad, so someone giving me such a ‘compliment’ just sounds condescending and I am sure we can find more interesting things to (small) talk about than the level of my English.

• I love your accent

Thanks, I guess? Sort of backhanded if you ask me.

• Do you know…

While I have to admit, there have been times when I knew someone from Lithuania who studies in Newcastle (usually because I met them here though, not at home), the majority of the time it’s just not the case. While you would think this is self-explanatory, it’s really not for some – I don’t know every single person from my country. Would you expect someone from the UK to know everyone who lives here? Obviously, not. Then why are you asking me?

• I have an international student flatmate from …

If I got a pound every time, I’ve heard this, I could probably cover my student loan by now. Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Indonesia, and it gets further geographically and culturally from where I am from. Just because I am an international student doesn’t suddenly make me an expert on every other European country and all the people that are from there and live in the UK. Oh, you’re not sure which part of Slovenia your flatmate is from? Don’t worry, I probably wouldn’t too. While you’re at it, Slovenia is the same distance away from the UK as it is from Lithuania, yet you don’t see me asking whether you know someone from there.

• Oh, so you’re rich?

I can’t answer for all international students, especially the non-EU/EEA students but myself, I started university in 2020, which means I still hopped on the last train to get the student loan for my tuition, which means I am the same as all of you, locals. Yet somehow a lot of people feel the need to put me in a separate box than themselves. Even if I was paying for the tuition (or rather my parents) how is this any of your business and why do you feel that you have a right to comment on my (family’s) financial situation?

• Do you speak Russian? Is that in Russia? Do you speak Russian ‘over there’?

So, this one is specifically targeted at my fellow Eastern European students, but I cannot leave it out. Especially with today’s context, I (and most of eastern Europeans I know) find this quite offensive. If you take into consideration the history of our countries as well, this is something that we despise hearing and the stereotype we hate being attached to.

Honourable mentions:

• Do you know Ed Sheeran?

I somehow doubt this would be something you would ask an English person. Yeah, I live in another country not under a rock.

• That’s not how English works, you f****g immigrant.

What a gracious way to correct someone’s grammatical mistake.

• Do you know that Eastern Europeans eat chalk?

Overheard a guy chatting up girls with these 'fun facts'. Was not as confident when confronted about this, though 🙂

I love the life of an international student and these things could never impact that, however, this is a little something that most of us dislike about being abroad. This list is not meant to be offensive but rather a reminder how you can do better.