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Aug 9, 2023 · Cultural traditions evolve in response to societal changes or external influences from historical events, rituals, or beliefs. Learning about traditions, such as through festivals, cuisines, art, and music, deepens understanding of cultural nuances and promotes cross-cultural understanding. The Importance of Understanding Cultural Traditions
Here are some ways to become better informed. 1. Ask the Employee. Sometimes the best way to find out about another culture’s norms is to ask employees from that culture to teach you about it.
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- Watch foreign films
- Follow foreign social media pages
- Look up culturally diverse YouTube videos
- Read online news from other cultures
- Check out travel books
- Visit local museums and cultural centers
- Enroll in a college class
- Search for cultural experiences in your community
- Talk to people from other cultures
If you’ve been living in one place for a while, you might be itching to learn about different cultures. Learning about other cultures is an invaluable experience—not only will you get more experience in other areas of the world, you’ll also meet a diverse range of people from different backgrounds. We’ve compiled some tips to help get you started s...
Experience media from different countries.
You can head to your local library and ask for foreign films, or you can look them up on a streaming service. If you don’t know the language, put on the subtitles so you know what’s going on while you watch.
Find organizations dedicated to promoting other cultures.
You can look for pages like this on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok. It’s a great way to learn about a culture’s values, cuisine, and fashion.
Try searching through hashtags related to that specific culture to find pages dedicated to it.
Look for culture-specific pages by searching “the culture” + “food,” “cuisine,” “travel,” or “guide.”
Many channels dedicate themselves to educating others.
Often, these videos are produced by people that come from that culture, or at least know a lot about it. Try looking up the culture you’re interested in to learn more about it through videos and online tutorials.
Search things like, “Learn about French culture,” or “What do people in India commonly eat?”
Many YouTube channels talk about subjects like news, history, or gender norms. Search for videos with a specific subject in mind.
Stay up to date on current events.
Subscribe to newspapers from that culture online to know more about what they are reading. Browse websites with data on entertainment, outings, politics, or trends. Even if you don’t speak the language, you can usually find an English translation.
For example, search for “French news in English.”
To find a list of newspapers from around the globe, check out
You can find a ton at your local library or bookstore.
They can give you ideas about international destinations, cuisine, and cultural norms. Look for a book dedicated to the country or area you want to learn about to find out more.
You can check out a guide to your chosen culture, or read travel journals by people who have spent time in that culture.
Look for guides that cover information about etiquette, gender roles, festivals, and religion.
Museums will often have exhibitions about other cultures.
Ask museums in your area about current or upcoming exhibitions. Also, check with cultural centers in your area for opportunities to learn about cultures outside of your own.
Learn more about a culture from a certified professor.
You can take a language course, or a course specifically about a certain culture. Sign up to take a class at your local community college.
Make sure you have time to commit to a class that may require homework and tests.
Look up information or ask local institutions about course requirements and cost.
There are probably more opportunities than you realize.
Look for ethnic restaurants, places of worship, and ask about upcoming festivals or holidays. Ask first before entering a place of worship or inviting yourself to a celebration, and always be respectful when attending events.
Express that you are genuinely interested in their culture, and do not want to disrespect it in any way.
If you're in school, take leadership of making sure your school is celebrating many different cultures. For example, you might ask your English teacher to include a more diverse selection of reading material. Also, if your school doesn't already have an International Day, you might talk to your teacher, counselor, or principal about sponsoring one.
You probably have some right in your own community!
Reach out to people in your community from work, school, or other local organizations. Talk to them about how your culture differs from their own, and ask what the biggest differences have been for them. You can share your own experiences to open up the conversation.
Make sure the person is comfortable talking about their culture with you. It’s fine to ask questions and be interested, but you shouldn’t force anyone to talk about things they don’t want to.
When you approach someone from another culture, you can ask questions like, “So how different is this country from the one you grew up in?” Or, “Which do you like better: the food here, or the food from your home country?”
- The Head Hunters of Nagaland, India. Contributed by Amrita from Experience Northeast. Northeast India is the home to many fascinating tribes and interesting cultures around the world, but the Konyak tribe or the fierce headhunters of Nagaland seems to be the most intriguing to us.
- Nyishi Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Contributed by Anjali from Travel Melodies. Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India has 26 indigenous tribal groups, and the Nyishi tribe is one of the largest of them.
- Kalash People. Contributed by Alex Reynolds from Lost With Purpose. The Kalash, one of the most interesting cultures around the world, is a unique people hailing from three small valleys in the mountains of western Pakistan: Bumburet, Rumboor, and Birir make up the Kalash Valleys.
- Khasi community of Meghalaya, India. Contributed by Zinara from NatnZin. The Khasi community is the main indigenous group calling home to the Indian state of Meghalaya.
In this case, it’s important to learn core words and phrases of that culture to ease communication. Be open to learning and seeking clarification when you feel lost. Learning a new language is not easy, especially as an adult. But with patience, you can learn core words and communicate effectively. · Cultural nuances and nonverbal communication
May 26, 2023 · “The first is moving from the fear zone, where you are afraid and would rather stay in your own culture comfort zone,” Dr. Page describes. Next is moving into the learning zone, where you strive to learn about different cultures, how people acquire their cultures, and culture's important role in personal identities, practices, and mental and physical health of individuals and communities.
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Check out more tips for fostering cultural sensitivity while traveling: Do your research: Learn as much as possible about the country you're visiting before arrival - its history, religion, social norms, and etiquette expectations. Learn basic phrases: Familiarize yourself with some key words or expressions in the native language spoken by ...
