The final goal of intercultural education would be to help students not only discover their own culture or those of other civilizations, but ultimately to help define themselves within and in relation to their heritage. It is equally important with teaching vocabulary or grammar or speaking competences. It is not by chance that we keep returning to our founding myths, narratives or stories either traditionally through books, or through films. It is there we hope to actually find the best expression of ourselves. Our learners consciously or unconsciously have the same drive. That is why when we tell them a story, an anecdote or something we read about, we catch their attention. What is more, literature is the richest resource of expressive, literary language and the best way to develop integrally , on all levels and in all directions a learners second language skills.

Yes, I believe we can talk about a European cultural identity. The first argument is brought by history which proved that different countries , areas borrowed cultural themes, motifs and symbols to create independently, or by influence similar narrative types (Im thinking here about fairy tales). Secondly, it is obvious that there are many similarities among most European countries: cultural, political, socio-economical, religious, in terms of beliefs, values etc. Then, there are also the politics of European Union which encouraged further a process of identifying common features and, on long term, of developing a sort of unique, hybrid like cultural identity.

Last year, I had the chance to work with an American volunteer teacher from Peace Corps USA in a TIA project with teenagers called Through a lens. As we were working together with students, I noticed that it was very difficult for her to understand our Romanian students lack of motivation and active constant involvement in long-term projects that implied volunteer work. It was equally difficult for me to explain to her that our students still know very little about volunteering activities , that they are many times overworked at school and therefore they are reluctant in taking up more responsibilities. She just simply said it was unacceptable and that if teenagers really needed to be better, they had to work constantly and harder.