Mediation and English Language Teaching: a Didactic Experience with Psychology Students

The publication of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Companion Volume with New Descriptors (2018) has drawn renewed attention to intra- and cross-linguistic mediation as a set of strategies and skills meant to facilitate communication in the growing cultural diversity of contemporary societies. Without challenging the role of specialists such as translators, interpreters or mediators proper, some mediation abilities could be developed in language courses for non -specialist students, whose sectorial knowledge is likely to make up for imperfect language mastery. This paper is based on an experience teaching English to Psychology students. Envisaging them as mediators in situations where English may be the lingua franca, for example with migrants, and assuming their empathy and emotional intelligence, a few skills were selected from the Companion Volume – processing text, relaying specific information, and explaining data in speech – and practiced through diverse activities and materials.