Research On Intercultural Learning In Europe

Europe is a continent with diverse languages and cultures, which makes Europe a huge mosaic picture, but at the same time, the common cultural values originated from the similar cultural roots, the same memories from the Second World War and the concept of co-development have made European countries become united. The integration of Europe would be the most important geopolitical innovation in international relations and Europe describes this integration as ―unity in diversity‖ in 21 st century. For the whole world, Europe has become a different but more peaceful place and also an attractive model where the ideal of being united, open and cooperative designed by the post-war founders has been much realized. However, this vision hasn‘t been created out of thin air, but only from a common cultural consciousness, which enables Europeans come to the knowledge that Europe has a common destiny and intercultural learning has become a better choice for Europe when facing crisis and threats. The interdependence among different European countries determines that economic integration has to move on to political integration, then to intercultural learning based on recognized common values which can help to better manage and solve conflicts and promote further development in Europe.Intercultural learning in Europe refers to a transformation process where individuals acquire knowledge, change their attitude and behaviors when interacting with people from different cultures in European environment. Intercultural learning in Europe, as an integrated concept, provides a political and education framework in dealing with cultural diversity. Intercultural learning in Europe goes beyond mere celebration of diversity, facilitates peoples‘ reflection on ethnocentric ideas, fighting against discrimination, respect different cultural identities, and promotes social conformation through learners‘ intercultural competence. As an educational process and embodiment of European pursuit, intercultural learning fosters individuals‘ willingness and ability to live together in multicultural society. It is necessary to do a comprehensive study into the historical background, theoretical basis, supportive policies and implementing strategies of intercultural learning in Europe in order to understand the role of intercultural learning plays in realizing the ideal of ―unity in diversity‖.Gradually developed after the post-war era, intercultural learning in Europe had gone through the stages of post-war conciliation and rebuilding, social inclusion of the immigrants, recognition of cultural diversity under European integration and transition from multicultural society to intercultural society by promoting European citizenship. Intercultural learning not only caters for the realistic need for integrating and solving social problems, but also its political and educational role intercultural learning plays lives up to people‘s expectation for peacefully living together and mutual development.Intercultural learning has become a transformative tool to identify the same European cultural sources and share responsibility. It greatly facilitates individuals‘ intercultural competence upon life-long learning concept where learners‘ experiences together with their living environment enable learners to have practical and pragmatic gains in intercultural learning where experiences and reflection are closely interwoven, thus brings along the changes for the whole populace, finally leading to social transformation. Intercultural learning also recognizes the process of identity negotiation and meaning sharing in which both parties involved seek to achieve understanding, respect and support in negotiation. For learners, they need to acquire new role to undertake rights and obligations, to have renewed attitude and emotion in order to recognize identities and understand values both for oneself and others.One of the important aspects in European social relations when facing the challenges and conflicts is to comply with the influential regulations and recommendations issued by Council of Europe and European Commission and to act together. Intercultural learning in Europe has obtained much direct and indirect support in terms of language, cultural and educational policies, which have enhanced intercultural competence and European citizenship, further promoting European cultural identity and social unity and cohesion.Intercultural learning in Europe under the guidance of theories and policies has also employed some practical ways to engage the public who can better understand its goals. With all the measures taken, intercultural learning in Europe has presented its unique patterns and features. European Intercultural Learning Federation and Youth Department of Council of Europe have become the sponsored institutions for intercultural learning in Europe and their efforts done greatly promote the transformation from intercultural learning concept to its relevant practices. The major practices cover intercultural learning program for youth, cross-border mobility, curriculum in schools and a large number of close-to-public intercultural activities in non-formal or informal ways. All of these practices represent the idea of lifelong learning. Besides, the solid theoretical foundation for intercultural learning in Europe reveals its own features in terms of learning levels and learning process.Intercultural learning in Europe has gone beyond a mere educational activity, but has become a creatively integrated European concept, which visualizes its development in the direction of policy guidance, significance of dialogue, enlarged channels for learning and encouraging social effect intercultural learning brings. Summarized from the intercultural learning in Europe, we can conclude such significant driving forces and strengths like language learning as the platform, youth as the main participators, institutions as pushing forces, activities as learning vehicle, and intercultural competence as major goal. Intercultural learning in Europe has provided us a new perspective into understanding and implementing the global, national and individual significance of intercultural learning in China.