Why is speaking with a “good” accent embarrassing in Japan? And why do Americans often stop learning Spanish after high school?

In this episode, Naoki (from Japan) and Maile (from the U.S.) compare how foreign languages are taught, perceived, and emotionally experienced in Japan and America. They talk about the silent shame Japanese students feel when pronouncing English too well, how Naoki managed to develop native-like pronunciation without leaving Japan, and why Spanish is often seen as a "requirement" in the U.S., not a passion.

They also touch on the popularity of Korean and French, and how cultural attitudes toward language learning shape confidence, motivation, and even identity.

#LanguageLearning

#CulturalDifferences

#EnglishInJapan

#SpanishInAmerica

#PronunciationShame

#AccentPolitics

#LanguageAndIdentity

#PodcastOnCulture