I got on the tram in town last night (bout 10pm) and I swear nearly all the voices I heard were foreign languages. I recognised French, and some Japanese students were on, an American was slobbering over his girlfriend and two guys were on the tram speaking a language I had no clue about.

I sat there like the ignorant brit not having a clue what all these people were on about.

Are we becoming a cosmo capital?

Are you from Sheffield ? The reason I ask , is that if you were from somewhere like , say , Wiltshire , the various Sheffield accents might have confused you ?
For example , " othagerrinoffatt'nextstop ?' might have sounded to you like Serbo_Croat ...........etc........etc.......

I got on the tram in town last night (bout 10pm) and I swear nearly all the voices I heard were foreign languages. I recognised French, and some Japanese students were on, an American was slobbering over his girlfriend and two guys were on the tram speaking a language I had no clue about.

I sat there like the ignorant brit not having a clue what all these people were on about.

Are we becoming a cosmo capital?

Given that there are about 50,000 university students in Sheffield and that higher education is becoming an increasingly globalised industry, I am not surprised at all by the number of foreign languages being spoken here. In addition to Erasmus students from EU universities, there are an increasing number of Asian students on postgraduate courses at both universities in Sheffield.

Are you from Sheffield ? The reason I ask , is that if you were from somewhere like , say , Wiltshire , the various Sheffield accents might have confused you ?
For example , " othagerrinoffatt'nextstop ?' might have sounded to you like Serbo_Croat ...........etc........etc.......

Yes they were deffo not speaking sheff.

Overall I wouldn't say Sheffield is becoming hugely cosmopolitan, but there are always loads of overseas students. I've recently finished a PhD, and in my department UK-based postgrads are definitely in the minority. This is a good thing, because I find cultural homogeneity to be quite dull and uneducating. :)

Probably only for a one mile radius from the University.

At my youngest sons primary school the kids have about 19 different first languages between them - almost entirely due to proximity to the university.

Are you from Sheffield ? The reason I ask , is that if you were from somewhere like , say , Wiltshire , the various Sheffield accents might have confused you ?
For example , " othagerrinoffatt'nextstop ?' might have sounded to you like Serbo_Croat ...........etc........etc.......

LOL....
No. I wouldn't think that it is that 'cosmo', but then again, there are definitely a lot of ethnic communities here. This is for sure. :)

It's not cosmopolitan at all. They are just students on paid courses who usually keep themselves to themselves. A nice bunch on the whole :)

Sheffield? Cosmopolitan?! Nay Lad :nono:

Mind you, the over-50s blokes still call each other love :love:

:hihi:

Wish sheffield folk were more cosmopolitan and foreigners integrated freely....we get so much more outta life that way! Will evolve in time i hopes muchly.