Journal
Title: The development of mediation strategies when relaying information, both in speech and writing: Task samples for undergraduate students of Spanish as a foreign language
Page: 104-111
Author(s): Macarena Jiménez Naranjo (University College London), Marga Navarrete (University College London), Mazal Oaknín (University College London)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37546/JALTSIG.CEFR6-5 DOI is not yet activated, it will take a few days to get confirmation from the central database.
Abstract:
Mediation was marginally included in the CEFR (2001), but it is in most recent editions (2018, 2020) that this area has gained pivotal recognition. New descriptors have been incorporated to foster the development of mediation activities and strategies, as well as the emphasis on plurilingual and pluricultural competences for language learning, among other aspects. This paper will discuss two sequences of tasks based on the illustrative descriptor “Relaying specific information” included within the “Mediating a text” scale, which “involves passing on to another person the content of a text to which they do not have access, often because of linguistic, cultural, semantic or technical barriers” (CEFR/CV 2020: 91). Furthermore, there are two subscales that have been covered throughout our activities. The first is “Relaying specific information” and the second is “Processing text.” Both subscales can take place in speech, writing or sign, but in the case of our tasks, they were done in speech followed by the writing format. In the first one (CEFR/CV, B2), textual mediation was carried out whilst discussing the controversial decision of adding Castilian Spanish subtitles -- the variety of Peninsular Spanish spoken in northern and central Spain-- to the film Roma (2018), shot in Mexican Spanish, and Mixtec. The second task aimed to offer an in-depth revision of cohesive devices. Thus, it provided students (CEFR/CV, C1) with the opportunity to review various Spanish linking words and strengthen their use in argumentative texts.
Keywords: Foreign language teaching, descriptors, mediating a text, relaying specific information, CEFR
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