This concept is vital in educational contexts because it helps students become global citizens who are not just tolerant but also aware of systemic inequalities. For instance, instead of simply teaching students about “typical meals in the UK” or “traditional dances in Colombia,” a critically intercultural approach might ask: whose traditions are we learning about, and whose are we leaving out? This promotes a deeper, more just understanding of culture.

Similarly, the textbook English File Intermediate (used in some of my courses) includes sections on global cultures, such as Unit 3B "Modern Manners", which talks about customs in different countries. However, the material mostly reinforces binary comparisons like “in Britain they do X, in Brazil they do Y,” lacking space for students to discuss cultural hybridity, migration, or socio-political factors behind such behaviors. According to the article, this approach reduces interculturality to trivia or polite behavior, failing to engage learners in critical reflection .