In learning a language, culture is really just as important as vocabulary, pronunciation, and other standard parts of language learning that are usually taught. Practically, language is not used in an artificial setting -- it is used in the context of a culture that speaks that language.
For example, in America, a thumbs-up signal has a positive association and usually refers to approval or something well done. In Iran, a thumbs-up is obscene and is basically the equivalent of the middle finger in America. Language is all about communicating a message, and without being aware of the implications of cultural signs, one may convey the wrong message or nothing at all, as the reading said. Other cultural behaviors can have disastrous consequences if not understood. In Iran, there is a social convention known as taroff. For example, if a group of people are out to dinner, everyone will at some point offer to pay for the entire thing, even if they don't want to or can't afford it. Eventually, after much conversation about it, everyone will split the bill. Not participating in taroff is considered extremely rude, but a foreigner might not understand taroff if they have never been exposed to it before. If an Iranian tried to taroff in America, most people would accept the offer, leaving the Iranian stuck with paying even though they did not expect to.
From what I know about Iranian culture, I would say it is very collectivistic. It is definitely about harmony and saving face, as I showed previously in the example about taroff. That example also shows that Iranian culture and society is focused on indirect communication, and what is meant is usually between the lines and not explicitly stated. Iranian society is also definitely polychronic; we are notorious for always being late! But I liked what the reading said about it being a continuum and not absolute -- my mom is definitely more monochronic despite being Iranian.
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