Cudzoziemiec w polskim świecie. Kreacja podręcznikowego bohatera w kontekście kształcenia świadomości interkulturowej – na przykładzie serii Start

The article analyses the image of a foreigner, a recurring protagonist in Start, which is a series of contemporary textbooks for teaching Polish as a foreign language for levels A0-A2. The analysis aims to reveal the extent to which his native cultural background, reflected in the social behaviour, habits, preferences and interests, expressed views and emotions, self-awareness of identity, values and reaction to the encounter with Polish culture, is taken into account in the way he is shown, and to what degree this character has been culturally “Polonized”. The authors conclude that the resource presents a rather ethnocentric point of view and, as such,  might undermine the teachers’ efforts to develop intercultural awareness among students.