It is often argued that learning a language is the most effective way to understand a culture. However, I tend to disagree with this view and believe that while knowing the language can be helpful, it is not essential for gaining insight into a culture.
First of all, I believe that a person can be deeply interested in a culture without being enthusiastic about learning its language. Even if someone is fascinated by a country’s traditions, values, or folk music, they might prefer watching documentaries or communicating with native speakers rather than studying the language. Although knowing the language can help one feel closer to the country, it does not necessarily lead to a deeper cultural understanding. For example, some teachers may speak the language fluently but know little about the culture, while others study the culture extensively without knowing a single word of the language. Therefore, I believe that learning the language is not essential for fully engaging with a culture.
Secondly, mastering a language is not as affordable as exploring a culture. Nowadays, learning a language has undoubtedly become easier than it was five or ten years ago.However, it still requires significant effort, time, and money. The same material that a tutor can teach in a short period may take much longer to learn independently. In contrast, gaining an understanding of a culture can be achieved more easily through watching national films, reading books, or communicating with people from that country. Therefore, the advantages of learning about a culture outweigh the drawbacks of spending money and time on learning a language.
To conclude, I strongly believe that gaining knowledge about a culture is both more engaging and more accessible than mastering its language, as it allows individuals to connect with the traditions and values of a society in a more direct way.