I am at C1 English level, but I still find it difficult to keep the conversation going with the local people where I study (I currently study in the UK) because I have no idea about their culture, and that makes me not very active in a conversation. Sometimes, they also talk way too fast, which makes it difficult for me to catch up. How can I deal with this situation?

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You will just have to be brave enough to request that they speak a little slower when conversing with you. In London where I come from Londoners will automatically slow down their speaking whenever they detect that there is a learner amongst them. At least I do anyway.

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Try watching Coronation Street if you are in the north, or Eastenders if you’re in the South. Your ears will adapt quickly. But British culture changes every ten miles and takes more than a life time to learn!

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Thank you for your advice, John.