Abstract:

The problem of this research is determined by the fact, that comparing with investigations, conducted by foreign scientists, the problem of influence interculturality on traditional culture is not widely developed. Thus, Lithuanian scientific practice lacks wider attitude towards this problem, but the importance of interculturality and intercultural education in the global world becomes a more relevant object for researchers in Lithuania.

The aim of this research is to reveal how pupils from senior forms evaluate the influence of interculturality on traditional culture and what socio-cultural problems it causes.

Methodology:
The research was carried out in comprehensive education schools in Lithuania and was organized in 2015. On the grounds of their personal experience, participants of the research (pupils from 11th–12th forms) had written an essay on the topic “What does interculturality mean to me as a Lithuanian?”. In this essay, they revealed their point of view and rendered value attitudes in the context of the object under investigation. To carry out data analysis, the method of content analysis was employed. Essays revealed the experiences of research participants, their evaluation of the influence of interculturality on traditional culture and uprise of sociocultural problems. Methodological provisions of the survey are based by philosophy of social constructivism and critical theory.

Results:
The analysis of research results revealed, that, according to pupil’s opinion, interculturality influences the vanishing of customs of a country, when celebrations of other countries become accepted in a native country (e.g. Halloween upstages All Soul’s Day, a celebration that is meant for quiet and respect of the dead). In such a way, when nations and cultures mix, people migrate to other countries it becomes difficult to keep one’s own nationality and not to forget culture and traditions of your own country. These factors, according to pupils, might lead our country near extinction. National symbols are also vanishing (e.g. a symbol of Easter lady is replaced by Easter bunny, who came from the USA culture), which is fostered by mass marketing and mass media. Interculturality conditions the dominance of other (sub) cultures, when representatives of younger generation join Goths, Emo, Punk subcultures, western lifestyle is copied which suppress the spirit of patriotism, the cultural identity is forgotten, unique Lithuanian language is lost. Pupils highlighted problems and threats of emigration – extinction of Lithuanian population, alternation of personal identity, segregation from the national language, negative attitude towards re-immigrants and migrants. All these factors influence the transformation of traditional Lithuanian culture.

Keywords:

Intercultural education, educational practice, pupils opinion, essay, content analysis, Lithuania.