I'm really happy reading all your comments. May be we can discus further about it.  I'm English student from Indonesia,  I found so many folk-tales in my country which are really interesting to read. If you want to know,  I have some tittles that you can search in Internet, I'm sure you will like it. 

- The Legend of Malin Kundang

- Tangkuban Perahu Story

- Mouse Dear and Tiger

- Story of Sangkuriang

- The legend of Danau Toba

And do you think this is the best way to know the societies real life through studying the folktales?

Thank you very much for your comments. Hopefully we can continue this discussion further... 

Although I was born & raised in the U.S., I grew listening & reading Mexican folklore/tales. I think you will like these tales, some are myth & legends:

La Llorona

El Chupacabra

Callejon Del Beso

Pergnant woman and the Eclipse

Vanishing Hitchhiker

Legend of Popocatepetl & Iztaccihuatl

Yeah, what Dakota is saying is true, I mean, through learning about the culture you can understand the people and then how they use their language to communicate, not counting that you'll have some subjets to talk about. Don't forget that if you want to learn some language in some area in particular, maybe science or litature or cultura, you have to full your brain with that in the language you're aim at.

Here in Peru the people around the mountains or maybe the sea have a deeply respect to them and think that they're like a gods or some magical creatures live inside them like "El Chinchilico" who's a guard of the mines.

Learning folk-tales is an amazing way to familiarize yourself not only with a culture, but with a language. There are aspects of folk-tales that may be lost when they are told outside of their original culture or language, so learning them is an amazing way to get closer to the language or culture you want to learn.

Folk-tales from the United States are many, and greatly varied. The most common folk-tales you'll hear are stories of ghosts, shape-shifters, and witches, but every section of the country has something different about it. The interesting part if finding the similarities, as well as the differences. It shows you how the people are alike, while showing you their vast differences.

Keep us updated on this. I'm sure you will find it very interesting.