A section of society has thoughts that the best way to learn a culture is to learn its language. Language plays a very instrumental role; however, I believe that there are other important aspects too which can facilitate to learn about the culture, which I will discuss in following paragraphs.
On the one hand, language is a medium through which cultural values are expressed. If a person knows the language, they can gain deeper understanding of the culture. For instance, knowing the language, allows people to learn read cultural literature and historical books. Therefore, language provides direct access to know about any culture.
However, Media can also provide valuable insight into a culture. For instance, songs and movies depict customs, values, emotions and tradition of a society. Through visual and musical videos, people can learn about the cultural. Moreover, in- person visits allow to get a exposure of the culture. For example, participating in street festivals, communicating with native people and trying to different traditional food, give a much in depth understanding about the culture. Thus, media and travel contribute to cultural understanding.
In conclusion, while language is a powerful tool for learning about any culture, it is not the only the means of understanding a society. Travelling to cultural places, using visual media and interacting with local people also provide valuable insights.