I f the guy spoke with good RP,
isn't likely North American students would have trouble understanding him. They must hear similar accents to Brazilian all the time, and there are plenty of Scottish accents in films and the media, but how often do you think a young North American has heard RP. I'm English, and it's not an accent that pops up very often in the UK.
( The Awful Puppy Bakery is still bored, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 21:47, 2 replies)

yeah this is an excellent point
I think I'm exaggerating by calling it strictly RP. Maybe 'high-register British English' is better.

Regardless, you're right- it's possible the students just couldn't understand his British English accent, but I think his skin color biased them against it. There's some experimental research on that idea but I can't seem to find it. What a shitty linguist.
( the prick of misery pierced my foot on a spiiiike on, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 21:58, closed)

Bloody commoner!

( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 22:13, closed)

Bally comminer!

( Ghoti Fingers, Wed 27 Feb 2013, 8:33, closed)

Bravo!
I've smashed my monocle as penance.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 27 Feb 2013, 8:58, closed)