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Culture & Language

A monk in orange robes standing in front of a line of statues in a temple.

About Culture & Language

Culture is a shared web of meanings that people use to make sense of their world and one another. Understanding another culture, as well as your own, is a lifelong endeavor. Culture 101 is an introduction to culture learning starting with culture general principles, culture specific information, culture and language training products, and more.
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Tourist Woman standing infront of the Wat Ratchanatdaram in Bangkok.

CultureReady Basics

CultureReady Basics is a web-based culture training tool developed to provide culture learning of the culture competencies reflected in the DoD policy as well as present tips and strategies for interacting effectively across cultures.
Read More About CultureReady Basics
Three Indian women carrying water on their head from near Jaipur.

Looking for Culture Training?

​​​​​​These training resources are designed to help you assess your own knowledge and stir curiosity about other cultures. The Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainers (VCATs) were developed with the defense department in mind, but they are available to others as well and can give you a sense of what the U.S. military does overseas.
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Cross Cultural Competence Trainer Text

Cross-Cultural Competence Trainer

The Defense Language and National Security Education Office, in collaboration with Joint Knowledge Online, has developed and delivered a culture training course to help meet the needs of a continuously expanding force with missions and activities that interact across all cultures.
View Cross-Cultural Competence Trainer Video
A colourful beach town against a bright blue ocean backdrop.