Writing for Academic Discussion What is the best way to learn about the culture of a foreign country?

Understanding the culture of a foreign county is essential for fostering global awareness and appreciation. There are various methods to learn about different cultures; in your opinion, what is the best way to learn about the culture of a foreign country?

 

 

☆Let’s think

1.       Other than traveling and reading the literature, what are best ways to learn about the culture of a foreign country.

 

 

☆Hints for Points

1.       Doing business with the country necessitates you to learn the culture of the country.

2.       Traveling the country allows you to learn the culture through five senses.

3.       Making friends with the person from the country helps you learn the language, religions, values, and custom of the person’s country.

4.       Learning the language of the culture gives you insights of it.

5.       Watching movies of the country gives you a comprehensive understanding of it.

6.       Comics of a country show a lot about the culture of their country.

7.       Eating food of the country tells you a lot about the customs and history of the country.

8.       Learning about the art of the country is learning about the culture of the country.

9.       By reading the literature of the country, you can see the culture through the characters’ eyes.

10.    Dealing with haters will train you to be equipped with detailed information about a culture.

 

 

☆Sample Answer

【Thesis】Both Aisha and Carlos make valid points in the senses as follows, but I think that watching movies is the best way to learn other cultures as it has both the advantages of traveling and reading literature and more.

【Literature】Literature shows what is in the people’s mind, more fundamental, deeper layers of the culture, as Carlos points out. By reading the literatures of a country, you share the mental world of the people, although, if you don’t read the contemporary authors’ works, you might end up with living in, say the culture in the 19^th century, which in itself is another strong point of literature; showing what was in the past and affects the current state of the culture. You can trace the origin of the present culture by reading period novels, for instance.

【Travels】On the other hand, traveling shows the whole environment the culture exists, which includes the geography, the history, the economy, the politics, the custom, and the nature of the nationals. The direct contact to them through all senses leaves an experience as a page in your journal of the journey of your life.

【Movies】Watching movies has the virtues of both traveling and reading literature, I think, as it shows both the surface and the deeper layers of a culture through visuals and sounds. It also takes you to the past. And it gives you an experience of a culture in around 100 minutes with entertainment.

【Conclusion】While All traveling, reading literature, and watching movies compensate for each other in learning other cultures, the last is the most effective and favored way to learn a culture, I believe.

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