| CODE | IAL1023 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Language Mediation | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Inclusion and Access to Learning | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Due to their specific situation, migrants of all ages, but especially adult migrants, are likely to need support in the form of linguistic mediation from people who have experienced living in the host society and who share with them the same language. The first part of the study-unit will focus on defining the language mediator's role as social agent who creates bridges and helps to construct or convey meaning. The focus will be on the role of language in processes like creating the space and conditions for communicating and/or learning, collaborating to construct new meaning, encouraging others to construct or understand new meaning, and passing on information in an appropriate form. In the second part of the study-unit we will focus on language mediation activities such as: a) relaying specific information; b) explaining data; c) processing text; d) note-taking; e) expressing a personal response to a text, etc. Language mediation can take place either within one language (intralinguistic mediation) or across languages (cross-linguistic mediation), varieties or registers (or any combination of these). In all the above activities, a communication source and a communication output will be present with the source message requiring processing and articulation in the target language or variety. Throughout the study-unit language mediation strategies (such as linking to previous knowledge, adapting language, breaking down complicated information, providing examples and definition, etc.) will be presented by means of a number of examples relevant to their context for the four domains of language use: social, personal, professional and educational. Study-Unit Aims: - To enable students to become more confident in narrowing the gaps between their clients' own experience and linguistic repertoire on the one hand, and what is unknown, alien or incomprehensible to them in their new environment on the other. - To allow students to practice and eventually master language mediation strategies such as: linking to previous knowledge, adapting language, breaking down complicated information, providing examples and definition, paraphrasing etc. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Maintain positive interaction by interpreting different perspectives, managing ambiguity, anticipating misunderstandings and intervening diplomatically in order to redirect talk. - Explain in clear, fluent, well-structured language the way facts and arguments are presented, conveying most nuances precisely, and pointing out sociocultural implications (e.g. use of register, understatement, irony and sarcasm). - Convey clearly and fluently well-structured language and significant ideas in long, complex speech or written texts. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Interpret and describe clearly and reliably the salient points and details contained in complex diagrams and other visually organised information. - Explain the attitude or opinion expressed in a spoken or written text (on a specialised topic, supporting inferences he/she makes with reference to specific passages in the original. - Summarise the important points made in longer, complex, live spoken or written texts on subjects of current interest, including his/her fields of special interest. - Recognise the intended audience of a spoken or written text on a topic of interest and explain the purpose, attitudes and opinion of the author. - (Whilst continuing to participate in a meeting or seminar) create reliable notes or minutes for people who are not present. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Council of Europe (2018). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages :Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Companion Volume with New Descriptors .Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing. Authors: B. North, E. Piccardo , T.Goodier. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989 - Stathopoulou Maria (2015), "Cross-Language Mediation in Foreign Language Teaching and Testing" ISBN:9781783094110:New Perspectives on Language:Multilingual Matters Supplementary Readings: - Brian North, Enrica Piccardo (2018), "Mediation and the CEFR: descriptors for an undervalued concept". Available at: https://docplayer.net/154033748-Mediation-and-the-cefr-descriptors-for-an-undervalued-concept.html |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Eileen Ariza Sara Zingariello |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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