Don't You Study Only Other Languages?

Since today was rainy and chilly, my British friend and I decided that we would not go out. He had many things to do. I also wanted to paint at house.

We had great conversations. I talked about many topics with my British friend. We talked about societies between Western countries and Japan, education between Western countries and Japan, Eating hobbit, manners, educations and so on. I love exchanging my ideas and thoughts into my international friends. I can expand my sights. It always make me think about Japanese culture.

I learned a lot from our conversations. If I just have been learning only English from my British friend, it would be boring. However, he is very intelligent, and he can explain Western culture, Western ideas and thoughts very well. I really think it is very important for learners because all languages are influenced by their own culture.

For example, when my friend and family went out yesterday, our car hit a rock, and one of the tires became a flat. My British friend asked my husband that he could help him to exchange the tire into spare one. However, my husband said "No no. I can fix it." immediately. I know that it's a part of our culture. Japanese people are so humble. So, most of us say "No thanks. I can do it alone". We think about our guest first, and we try to think that we don't make our guest make in trouble or bother them. However, when I listened to my husband comment, I thought he really didn't understand Western culture. I'm not sure in this case if it didn't sound be rode to my friend. It slightly sounded be rude for me. If he knew about Western culture more, he thought about it first, and he would say much better phrase to him. Although my friend didn't seem to be care about that, I explained my husband about Western culture.

It sometimes happy to us. That's why I really think learning other culture is very important for learners.