Suki, I do wonder whether you know how supercilious you are.
Now that I've resigned from the rhyming competition I will explain the inconspicuous yet important differences between American and British English.
As a starting point I will simply point out some differences using examples;
With regards to tenses;
British: I've already seen that film.
American: I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film.
Please note, I already saw that film is considered grammatically wrong if you are using British English.
British: Have you finished your homework yet?
American: Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet?
Yet again, the second option is ALSO grammatically wrong when using British English.
Past simple/past participle;
British: Burnt, dreamt, smelt.
American: Burned, dreamed, smelled.
Of course, the British way is sometimes used in American, but this just goes to show that there is no consistency with the rules sometimes when we are talking about American.
Prepositions;
British;
At the weekend.
In a team.
Write to me soon.
American:
On the weekend.
On a team.
Write me soon.
Those are some examples that may seem insignificant, but believe you me, they are not insignificant in British English. I say in British English because I have no idea how draconian American English teachers are. Also, if you are a student of British English, you will notice that “Write me soon”, doesn’t make any sense to say the least.
There is also something I’d like to point out to you, Suki. Just because you don’t find something hard in English, it in no way does it imply that others do not find it hard. I teach English at many levels here in Paris. From personal experience, I can honestly tell you that many students find American far easier to grasp. And unfortunately, many still have difficulties be it concerning grammar or spelling.
As for the accent that you keep bringing up, there is no “correct” accent per se. People in London have a different accent to people in Newcastle for example. People in Malaga, Spain, have a different accent to people in Barcelona. I know this because I also teach and help Spanish students and even I can recognise the differences in accents between the two. So for the last time, accent’s have nothing to do with what most of us are talking about.