Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) offers a comprehensive approach to understanding language by focusing on the ideational metafunction, which facilitates text deconstruction through the analysis of transitivity systems. These systems are responsible for expressing the speaker’s or writer’s understanding and construal of the world, particularly through the use of processes. This understanding of language becomes crucial in grasping the dynamics between one’s self and the Other, as they shape the development of identities. This chapter reports on a study conducted with 32 Romanian translation majors who analyzed the poem “Pretty Ugly” by Shoaib, with a focus on transitivity systems and intercultural considerations. Analysis of qualitative data revealed that participants gained understanding of the importance of approaching texts using SFL with intercultural awareness. It also shed light into how they construed their self-perception, challenged societal standards, and grappled with the concept of Otherness. This multi-layered analysis, which combines SFL and an intercultural component, holds significant pedagogical implications. It enhances overall intercultural communicative competence and allows for more effective and culturally sensitive communicators in an increasingly interconnected world. Recognizing the importance of participant construal not only deepens the understanding of human relationships but also fosters empathy and mutual respect among diverse individuals.