Different Spellings Different Words

U.S.	British	U.S.	British
aluminum center check color connection ; curb diplomat gray honor inquire jail jewelry labor organization pajamas peddler program realize recognize theater	aluminium centre cheque colour connexion kerb diplomatist grey honour enquire gaol jewellery labour organisation pyjamas pedlar programme realise recognise theatre	apartment bathroom candy checkers closet corn cracker diaper drugstore eraser faucet gas, gasoline hood (of car) line napkin oven round-trip (ticket) ticketstore truck trunk (of car) underpass vacation vest elevator	flat toilet, W.C. sweets draughts cupboard maize biscuit nappy chemist's rubber tap petrol bonnet queue serviette cooker return shop lorry boot subway holiday waistcoat lift

In the u.S. Classroom

Many European students and teachers are surprised by the teachers' informal atmosphere of U.S. classrooms. Although acceptable behavior in classroom situations varies from university to university (and even from one class to another), teachers should not be surprised (or offended) if their U.S. counterparts eat, drink or chew gum in the classroom. While it is not always considered acceptable behavior to do these things, it is quite common and not meant as disrespect toward the teacher. Teachers have a right, however, to ask their students not to do these things in their classroom.

Students in the U.S. also dress rather informally. Students often wear jeans and tennis shoes to class. You may also be surprised by U.S. students sporting ripped or ragged clothing (jeans, for example, are often purposely ripped for a 'stylish' effect), or revealing clothing (such as short skirts, tank tops and sheer clothing). Another thing to be aware of is that students also sit rather informally, sometimes sitting upon their own legs or sitting cross-legged. Also, students often rush to and from classes without saying "hello" or "goodbye" to teachers. Students in the U.S. sometimes come into classrooms after the class period has begun, or leave before it has ended. In these cases, students often say nothing to the teacher leading the class, since they may consider that interrupting the teacher's class would be rude.