Introduction to Mediation
| Action-oriented Approach|Plurilingualism|Tech-mediated
What is mediation? ðŸ§
Mediation is the fourth mode of communication in the CEFR with reception, interaction and production and in fact it usually involves one or more of the other three modes. Mediation involves constructing something through language rather than just using language socially.
In production, you express your own thoughts, views, desires etc., usually for other people. In interaction you socialize: establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, you conduct various kinds of transactions, and argue with other people. In reception you are normally informing yourself or just listening/reading/watching for pleasure.
However, when you are constructing meaning – constructing knowledge or constructing communication – this becomes a form of mediation.
Thus, explaining something to someone who, for some reason, doesn’t understand; expressing it in different ways; giving examples; or translating the gist into another language – this is mediation (as well as production). If you are working on something with one or more other people and you are thinking something through, brainstorming and then formulating a concept or plan, this is mediation (as well as interaction). If you are listening/reading and studying something and taking structured notes, you are mediating for yourself, or maybe for friends/colleagues. In all these cases you are constructing meaning through language – not just using language for communication.
Now that you have an idea of what mediation involves, watch this 6-minute video: Mediation (2022: Council of Europe), which explains the concept and presents teachers saying what this might mean in terms of classroom activities.
AALE Toolkit Home | Action-oriented Approach | Plurilingualism | Tech-mediated | AALE Infosheets Exploration