you can't help,  they are just stupid! it's just a job, so suck it up, these bosses think that they own the English language when they are hiring you!!

We had an English teacher from the UK, and he would speak in different British accents. He said that one particular accent (I forget which, but it sounded to me like cockney, though he made it clear that it was NOT cockney) was his "real one" and that he learned the more "polished" english in Public school (which he also told me is NOT public).

Anyway, he would go thrugh the different accents if anyone, Chinese or Western told him that they loved the "British accent" after asking "which one?".

People would end up scratching their heads staring at him blankly, no matter if they were Chinese or not!  I would assume that I was one of them too the first time I heard his "schtick".

These people you are dealing with have had little exposure to English in general. Of course they're not going to understand the concept that there are different ways of speaking and different accents. They probably think all Americans use a standard pronunciation too, which is obviously not true. Of course there is also the difference between how a person reads English, and how they speak it as they go. There's a noticeable difference between when a Chinese person speaks casually and when they read or memorize something for radio, TV or a performance. Their only exposure to a British English may in fact be from the news, so unfortunately for you, that's their standard.

Dont know why they down thumbed it, so I "up" thumbed it. Seems like a legit observation to me...

England is a small shitty place that has loads of different regional accents, most people who have never been there think they know what england (or Britain) is but actually they have no idea. It must be a media thing as maybe they watch BBC world service and think that the only english is newsreader english.

I however have a very good proper english accent and am told by the chinese in my workplace that they can understand me better than other foreigners. (I guess they mean mercans).

So, contrary to popular belief in england right now, regional accents are not cool, and here they hinder your progress, so like many jordies that move to london have realised... if you wanna move up in the world ditch the accent....

Because I am from New England I can throw together what people would consider a strong and proper English accent, now by English I mean what most people consider a proper English speaking manner not an accent from the UK. What your boss might confuse about is the manners of speaking you use, like the way your tone changes or your choice of words and the way you carry your sentence when speaking. There is a common way that people are supposed to speak English, now it might not be correct but it is what foreigners assume and expect of you.

PS I try not to speak that way when I can because it makes me feel like a complete a**hole, so just do not bother trying if you can. 

chinese think they know english better than foreigners. it';s all part of the superiority indoctrination

I was told, by a Chinese girl that her brit accent was better than mine. I said "probably, because I was born and raised in the US". She then tried to argue with me that my accent was wrong and that I look like I should speak French. I immediately start quoting my favorite parts of "My Fair Lady" (accent and all) and just completely confused this girl. It amazes me how people think and views things in China. How do you tell someone they don't sound right speaking their native tongue...hahaha

My opinion is most Chinese people who studied English are idiots and think that because they have a degree in it that they can speak it as good as a native speaker. Frankly, they don't even understand that a factory worker from Hamilton speaks English better than they do. 

i am Chinese and i think British English is the most beautiful English in the world though i cannot speak well  yeah,it sounds no emotion, i feel i can calm down and concentrate when i listen to BBC...

yeah i get fed up having to add a really bad American accent to some of my words just so Chinese people can understand.  Its just because foreigners generally learn American English.  i heard that American English is actually easier to learn because the vowel sounds are easier to pronounce.  I don't know if thats true or not but its certainly true that they don't teach with a British accent (whichever one) in the schools here.

Paul, did you try slowing down and speaking a standard British Accent that is easy to understand. I'm Canadian American and it never surprises me when Chinese come to me and tell me how good their English is and blame my accent on why they can't understand everything I say. You literally have to slow down to the point of stupid English.

I know Paul, I mean, not much you can do, even if you had a non accent English, the lazy students or Business people would still blame you for something with your English. Chinese love to blame everyone but themselves. Live with it, grab that pay check and go about your daily business

My opinion listen to what they are telling you otherwise you will not get the job and you have to flip burgers back in your country just like you did before you came here. Since you did not go to school or were intimidated by the UK military you have no other choice but to listen to your CHINESE boss...I love adding that at the end! Do you like that opinion? 

You dont flip burgers, you  turn them over

Hello crim,tech,never and dee,

                                                    What's up fellas? I really appreciate and can TOTALLY relate to your spot on comments!!! Why you may ask? I'll tell you why! Because, I used to teach in South Korea and if you want to talk about arrogant,obnoxious IDIOTS go live there!!! :( OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! :( 

                                                     * And now, for an educational moment. With great desire, I will USE SOME ADDITIONAL words..I

mean let's cross borders..to describe the aforementioned TWITS!!!!! :) * Okay, we've got IDIOT already covered (a high-five to you nevermind) from my homeland (U.S. of A.). Let's move on to the U.K....with WANKER..how am I doing dee? :) Next, let's skip over to Latin America with BRUTO as in.."iQue bruto!"~~"What a brute/an idiot!".

                                                    * Finally, the grand finale with

BABO..which is Korean!!!!!! And yes, I used this word many times for S. Koreans!!!!!!! :) Ciao!