6 Ways To Learn About Other Cultures

We all have a worldview and a unique culture, and it’s important to examine your own. Your worldview and culture shape who you are as a person and how you look at the world. Learning about other cultures can help you gain a broader understanding of people, how they were raised, and can make you more empathetic overall. These can give you a better worldview that can help you as you navigate relationships, travel, and more. Here are 6 ways to learn about other cultures even from the comfort of home.

Try Snacks From Different Cultures

Food is an important part of any culture, and it’s a great way to learn about it. You can often find foods from other cultures at local shops so you don’t need to travel out of town to get a different experience. If you eat the same food every day at home and at work, try branching out with new foods on occasion.

For example, say that your office has a Mexican food truck for lunch every Wednesday—try a burrito or bowl of menudo. Or if there are Indian restaurants in your area, go there for dinner sometime. You might find yourself really enjoying the experience of learning about another culture through its cuisine. You can even order authentic snacks online and have them delivered to your door. This is a great way to get Japanese treats and other international snacks sent to your home.

Learn a Foreign Language

Learning a foreign language will help you see the world in a different way. It will also help you understand other cultures and people from around the globe. If you travel, learning another language can greatly improve your experience because it will allow you to communicate with locals who may not speak English or your native language. There are plenty of options when it comes to learning a language. You can hire an online language tutor or you might even be able to practice it when you visit local restaurants where the owners speak the language you are trying to learn.

Travel

When you truly want to get to know another culture, traveling is the best option. Traveling allows you to see how other people live, and how they think. It allows you to see how other people interact with their environment, and it allows you to see how other people live in different parts of the world. You can even use your foreign language skills as you navigate new places. People will respect that you put in the effort to learn some of their native tongues and are often willing to help you practice and learn even more.

Don’t Be Ethnocentric

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see your own culture as superior to others. It’s not a good idea to be ethnocentric, because it prevents you from learning from other cultures. By attempting to understand why people in other cultures behave the way that they do, it’ll help you connect better with them, and to have more compassion.

No one culture is better than another, it’s simply what’s familiar and known to the person raised in it. Work on becoming culturally sensitive and understanding.

Ask Questions, Listen and Be Respectful to Others

This is a simple yet powerful way to learn more about life and the world. Ask questions, listen and be respectful to others. It’s important to realize that some people see the world differently than you and that is okay. If someone has a different opinion or view on something, don’t judge them or make assumptions about them based on their beliefs—instead, try opening yourself up to learning from them. Be respectful of other people’s opinions even if they differ from yours; this will go a long way toward helping you gain a better worldview.

Focus on Individuals Rather Than Stereotypes or Generalized Beliefs

Have you ever heard someone say that everyone from a certain culture is lazy, that they are never on time, or that they are prone to crime? These are harmful stereotypes that get perpetuated until someone stops the cycle. Getting to know individual people instead of looking at them through the lens of a stereotype is critical to understanding other cultures and people who live in your community. Stop trying to categorize individuals and reach out to learn more about them, how they were raised, and different aspects of their culture. You’ll be glad you did.