Can't understand colleague's accent

[bluebellart]

I started a new job recently and there is a Japanese lady who seems absolutely lovely and I'd really like to be her friend or at least get to know her better. She has been in the UK for only a few months and I've been talking to her a lot, but I struggle to follow what she is saying sometimes.

I feel I can only ask her to repeat something so many times before I start to nod along and pretend I understand until we change topic.

What would you do in this situation?

I've been in this situation a few times and I just keep asking them to repeat or slow down until I can understand them.

Eventually I learned to understand and they learned to communicate a bit more clearly.

It's important to keep telling them not to be embarrassed and for you not to be embarrassed yourself, because it's no-one's fault.

My best mates a geordie and I still have to do this 😂

My husband is Scottish but has lived in England for 40 years. He has retained his accent although it’s not as strong now. We have been together for 37 years - and I still have to ask him to repeat things sometimes!