Taxi Talk in Bournemouth

Last week, I was in Bournemouth visiting my Dad in rehab after he broke his hip following his fall from his exercise bike (which is what you do when you’re 98 😊). Since I really don’t enjoy driving in England—especially those confusing roundabouts—I took a taxi every day which wasn’t much more expensive. And what interesting journeys I had through the many stories shared by taxi drivers from all over the world.

Every day, I met new taxi drivers from Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Turkey, Bangladesh, Iran, Poland and Romania to name but a few. All of them had different reasons for coming to England. Some came for a better life, some followed family, and some just fell in love with the seaside air (who can blame them?).

What I really noticed, though, was how they communicated. These drivers were polite, funny, and eager to speak English—even if their grammar wasn’t perfect. And here’s the best part: I understood them because they followed five simple but powerful tips that I think every English learner can learn from:

Be polite. A simple “Good morning!” or “How are you today?” goes a long way and opens the door to friendly conversation.
Use simple language. They didn’t try to impress me with big words. Instead, they spoke clearly and kept it simple—and it worked!
Be open-minded. They were just as interested in me as I was in them, asked questions, and listened. It made our chats feel relaxed and natural.
Have a sense of humour. A little joke or a smile makes even a rainy day feel brighter. One driver said, “British weather? Only two seasons: wet and wetter!”
Try your best. None of them spoke “perfect” English, but they all tried. And that made the biggest difference.

So, next time you’re speaking English, think like a Bournemouth taxi driver: be clear, be kind, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. You don’t need perfect grammar to connect with people—just a little courage and a friendly face.

And if you’re ever in Bournemouth, take a taxi. You might end up learning more than you expect!