Learning a language = learning a culture
To truly understand a language and the people speaking that language, you also have to make a conscious effort to learn about the culture and history of these people. I know that the cultures of the countries where a language is spoken can be very different (e.g. Mexico vs. Spain, France vs. all African states where French is spoken, and even England vs. Ireland vs. Australia), so these suggestions work best if you have a specific target country in mind.
Here are some ideas on where to start:
look at the political system of your target country/culture: how does it work? Who are the most important people right now? Is there a monarchy?
look at the (broad) history of your target country/culture: since when is it an official country? Has it been in any wars? If so, with who and why? Was this country ever colonised or a coloniser?
research the most popular TV shows from the last 20 - 30 years and watch some of them
find out the most popular sport of this target country/culture and the culture surrounding it
research the holidays and how they are celebrated and whether there are any special holidays & what they mean to your target country/culture
watch some movies and TV shows that were made in your target country/culture, so you can get insights into the everyday lives of these people and how they interact
watch/read some news of your target country to find out what’s happening there right now & what the most important topics are for them
research how the school & education system works
research how the healthcare system works
research the typical cuisine of your target country/culture
find out whether there is some kind of traditional wear, its history, and what it means to the people
find out whether there are any indigenous people living in your target country, what their history is, and how they are perceived/treated in the country’s society nowadays
are there any stereotypes about this country/culture? Research whether or not they are true and why they exist in the first place
find out whether there is some kind of traditional folk music. Listen to it and find out its history and what it means to your target country/culture
what are the main religions of your target country/culture and how incorporated are their practices in society?
are there any social divides in your target country/culture? If so, what are they based on?
how is your target country’s relationship to its neighbouring countries?
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If you have any other ideas or suggestions, feel free to comment or reblog!
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