CULTURAL IDENTITY AND INTERCULTURAL APPROACHES IN EDUCATION

Abstract

Cultural, identity, social and religious diversities are inherent characteristics to every modern society. They need laudable abilities of comprehension, communication and mutual cooperation. Thus, the intercultural approaches precisely aim at improving inter-social and interpersonal communication by recognizing and accepting cultural pluralism as a social reality.

On the basis of comparison elements, our study aims to point out different notions, as the notions of cultural identity, interculturality, multiculturalism. Then, we tackle the question of education and cultures in order to distinguish the main approaches related to interculturality in foreign language teaching. We are convinced that intercultural education is a major issue in some countries, but a real challenge in other countries where minorities, religions require specific teaching. In this respect, we try to formulate new proposals concerning teaching practices and intercultural approaches in school.

Keywords: identity, culture, intercultural approaches, communication, education.