English

English is my second language. I’ve spent total of two years and four months so far in US and I have been trying to improve my language skill daily.

They almost always say “you have different accent from people around here.” Indeed, English is my second language with all my formal education in Japan except for high school diploma and MBA.

Some assume that I grew up in Canada or Australia, but it is totally WRONG! I can not answer question about neither one of countries as I have never been there.

Lately, my American friends tell me that I should correct my accent so that I sound like one of them. I learned English from a lady from North Carolina when I was a child and I was an exchange student in California for a year when I was in high school. Additionally, my teachers were all British while I was in school. Now, I find it not an easy task to assimilate to East Coast English.

When I explain my English educational background, people nod and say “I see. But you are almost there.” Thanks to graduate school work, my writing and reading has improved dramatically, but correction of accent is a little difficut as my brain is not flexible any more. But I am working on it.