You already speak English. So why does Scotland still feel difficult?
FOR INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS IN SCOTLAND
You already speak English, but since moving to Scotland…
You may understand English well, but still feel unsure in Scotland. So you:
Stay quieter than you want to in meetings or group conversations
Miss jokes, local references or informal phrases
Avoid conversations because you’re worried about making mistakes
Understand English, but not always the Scottish ‘code’
Can’t express your personality or opinions at work in the way you would like
Feel that your humour, personality, or expertise does not always come across
Work with me on real situations like
joining small talk before or after a meeting
understanding local phrases, humour and indirect comments
asking someone to repeat or explain without feeling awkward
contributing your ideas in meetings or group conversations
responding when people speak quickly or use unfamiliar expressions
expressing your opinions and personality more naturally in English
Testimonials
“Being part of a group with other international professionals is incredibly enriching. It has helped me become more familiar with the different accents and ways of speaking, while also strengthening my intercultural communication skills, something that is essential in the diverse work environments here in Scotland.“
Bianca Pistorio, Glasgow
“Listening to people from different backgrounds provides you with a better chance to improve your listening skills. It’s a great way to practise listening.
Another huge advantage is that you take part in the conversations where different phrasal verbs and other structures come up. When you study alone, you repeat the same vocabulary again and again.”
Jose Duarte, Cordoba, Spain
Why GoGabber?
I created GoGabber after 17 years in international business, including global roles connected to Scotland’s whisky industry.
After living and working across cultures, I saw that strong English is only one part of communication in Scotland. The harder part is often understanding the local expectations, humour, small talk and unspoken rules that shape everyday conversations.
