The Foreign Exchange Program

In this episode, we gush all about our favorite Japanese stores, what makes them special, when we typically visit, and what sorts of goods can be found within! If you ever end up in Japan and you see one, stop by for a browse. **For anyone curious, the LOFT stores that collaborate with the MoMA are called LOFT Design Stores and there are several locations throughout the country!** Like what you he...

In this episode, we discussed one of the recent social issues in Japan, over tourism. It is delightful many foreign tourists are interested in Japan and its culture and decided to actually visit; however, some of them do not value following rules, and that leads to limited tourist attractions. Tell us what you think! Foreign-born Miss Japan sparks debate on what it means to be Japanese https://jap...

In this episode, Sadie takes us through the highlights of her life-long love of video games. She touches on what some of her favorite games were and how she was able to learn about Japanese culture through them. She also talks about how playing video games has actually been able to help her study Japanese. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, mes...

In this episode, we shared our experiences and observations regarding receiving and giving compliments in the U.S. and Japan. Although you try to be nice and give compliments, it does not mean always receiving as you think in another country or culture. We discussed how we feel when we receive Japanese and American styles compliments. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss?...

In this episode, we talk all about the differences in graduation ceremonies in the US and Japan. From what we wear to what we do, we look back on our own experiences and teach each other about what our "idea" of graduation is like. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a comment for us on Spotify. We...

In this episode, we shared what we enjoyed games during recess or after school in our childhood. We realized there are cultural ties in some of the games, although we did not realize it back then as children. What kind of games did you play in your childhood? Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice messa...

In this episode, Akane shared some mnemonics from her experience growing up in Japan. As a result, the mnemonics are strongly tied to Japanese culture and customs. Listen and find out how they are useful for your learning Japanese! Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope...

In part one of this two-part episode, Sadie shares some mnemonics that she either learned in school or picked up as she was growing up in the US. We thought it would be nice to share some common mnemonics because these are often not found in language learning textbooks. While some of them may be irrelevant, some may stick with you and help you retain and recall information! Stay tuned for part two...

In this episode, we talk about how the language of personal pronouns has shifted in recent years, both in English and Japanese. We also share how those pronouns can concisely convey one's identity. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Email: foreignexch...

In this episode, we talk about how the way we communicate changes based on the language we're using. We discuss some real world examples, personal experiences, and even revisit some of Akane's early research work on the topic! Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We h...

In this episode, we try our hand at tackling a very tricky question: What does it mean to be Japanese? We were inspired to discuss this topic because of the following news story: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68078061 Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enj...

In this episode, we talk about how we feel American and Japanese societies view living at home with your parents as an adult and how those views may have started to change over time. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Email: foreignexchangeprogrampod@gmai...

In this episode,  we touch on some differences we've noticed between Japanese and American style breakfast. Let us know what do you eat for breakfast in your culture and country! Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Email:  ⁠foreignexchangeprogrampod@gm...

In this episode, we touched on some differences we've noticed between Japan and the US regarding attitudes toward animals. How people in both countries perceive having pets and going to animal cafes, zoos, or aquariums. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enj...

Seeing as we both have experience teaching our native languages to non-native speakers, we thought it could be interesting to talk through some frequent mistakes students of ours might make. Remember that making mistakes is all part of the language learning process! But occasionally reflecting on how we use our non-native languages can help us improve and give us something to work on in the future...

In this episode, we talk all about Japanese inns! We go over the typical facilities, amenities, service, and even wardrobe you can expect to encounter when staying at an inn! We highly, highly recommend checking them out if you get the opportunity when you visit Japan, particularly if you want a taste of traditional Japanese culture. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? Y...

In this episode, Sadie tells Akane about an experience she had while traveling overseas when attempting to communicate using a language other than English or Japanese. The results were not what she expected! Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Email: forei...

In this episode, we revisit an old but good topic. Both of us collected some more words that we find difficult to translate into either English or Japanese. It's always interesting to see what sorts of concepts or ideas can be said so simply in one language, but then have to be explained in detail to get the same meaning in another. Thanks for listening to part 3! Like what you hear? Want to r...

In this episode, we finally talk about a crucial aspect of Japanese culture, honne-tatemae. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, but couldn't quite figure out if what they were saying was what they actually meant or not? Or, have you ever been the person to put your true feelings aside and say something more agreeable instead? If your answer is 'yes,' then you've likely e...

In this episode, we discussed our opinions on using AI in educational settings. Technologies and AI are very useful and help our lives significantly; however, do they improve our skills or earn knowledge? How can we teach our students to use or apply AI? Do technologies invade teachers' jobs and threaten their job security? Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can...

In this episode, we share and discuss a few examples of Japanese and American folklore that have been told and retold over the years. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can send us an email, message us on our Instagram, or leave a voice message for us on Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Email: foreignexchangeprogrampod@gmail.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forei...

In part one of this two-part series, Akane introduces a few materials she has found to be helpful in her learning English as a foreign/second language. If you're someone who's studying English and is comfortable using textbooks to do so, have a listen! Maybe one of these recommendations could be useful to you too!  Understanding and Using English Grammar Useful Expressions for Research Pap...

In part one of this two-part series, Sadie introduces a few materials she has found to be helpful in her quest to learn Japanese. If you're someone who's studying Japanese - or looking to get started - and are comfortable using textbooks to do so, have a listen! Maybe one of these recommendations could be useful to you too! A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar Practical Kanji Vol. 1 Irod...

In this episode, we shared Japanese and American superstitions. We have heard of some superstitions, but actually, they are not universal. They are very silly or unbelievable for people from other cultures. We found it interesting to discuss as a topic on our podcast today. Like what you hear? Want to request a topic for us to discuss? You can message us on our Instagram or leave a voice message f...

In this episode, we have a discussion about street smarts. Some pertain to safety related things, some are more focused on general helpful things to keep in mind while staying in either the US or Japan for an extended period of time. We hope this episode was informative for you! The movie Akane mentioned: Soredemo boku wa yattenai (English title: I Just Didn't Do It) Like what you hear? Want t...