Agree with you, I have been travelling England and many cities accent you really can't listen even the local people said they can't listen Northern part accent either so don't chasing foreigner's accent, speaking Eng is just a part of learning English, provided it is clear with simiple words and sentense structure is not really that important. May be grammer has to be correct as well. I have heard EC teachers having conversation with students and they are far better than many of our Government's officer even our Chief. If we let student start speaking with their own accent (let say HK tone) it is better than ever we follow the foreigner's accent. So when student got chance to speak more in future, they will follow the area's accent automatically. I have to tell HK people accent is the top 3 among Asia's country. If you listen Singapore/ Japan/ Korea Eng, you will say: Are you speaking Madarine? Again you see our Government's people they all speaking in a very native Hong Kong SAR accent which I always laughing at them on TV. I am HK guy but won't speak Eng like that.