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E7 E - Decide what matters in mediation

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E7 E - Decide what matters in mediation

Mini-description: Decide independently which information is relevant, what can be shortened and what needs a short cultural explanation. You mediate meaning, not every word.

Einleitung

Mediation means helping people understand each other across languages and contexts. Your job is not to translate everything. Your job is to decide what the other person needs.

In this aiMOOC, you work mostly in English. You first try on your own, then use context and media, then hints, and only then short German help if you need it.

Core routine: Notice → understand → try → use → communicate → feedback → improve → use again.

Curriculum focus

This course practises mediation at E level for English as a first foreign language in Grade 7 in Baden-Württemberg: choosing relevant information for an audience, transferring meaning appropriately and explaining culture-specific ideas when needed.

External reference: Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg: Sprachmittlung.

I can ...

I can identify the audience and purpose before I mediate.
I can separate key information from extra detail.
I can shorten information without changing the meaning.
I can explain a culture-specific term in simple English or German when needed.
I can ask for clarification and repair communication.
I can check whether my mediation is clear, accurate and useful.

Media start: What matters?

Look at the photo. Imagine one student has an English event notice and must explain it to a German-speaking friend.

Think in English:

Who needs the information?
What does this person want to do?
Which three facts probably matter most?
Which details could be left out?

Quick rule: Relevance depends on purpose + audience + situation.

Prior knowledge: Try first

You already know how to pick out key facts in everyday life.

Mini-task: A friend asks, “Can I join the school trip?” You see a long notice. Which details do you look for first?

Think of: date – price – meeting point – equipment – deadline – teacher’s favourite colour – history of the place.

Hint 1: Start with the friend’s goal.

Hint 2: Ask: “Does this detail help the friend decide or act?”

Deutsch-Hilfe, nur wenn nötig: Wichtig ist, was die andere Person für ihr Ziel braucht. Nicht jede Information muss mit.

The mediation decision

Step 1: Know the task

Before you read or listen deeply, ask:

Who is the target person?
What does this person need to know or do?
Which language and tone fit the situation?

A good mediation for a friend may sound informal. A message for a host family may need a little more politeness.

Step 2: Sort information

Use three mental labels:

KEEP: essential for the task.
SHORTEN: useful, but too detailed.
EXPLAIN: culture-specific or unclear without context.

You can also DROP information that does not help the target person.

Example source information: “The school fête starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a cake sale, a second-hand book table, a football challenge, three student bands, a raffle and a short welcome by the headteacher. Entry is free. Bring cash for food. The event ends at 6 p.m.”

Task: Tell your English exchange partner when to come, what it costs and what to bring.

Good mediation: “Come on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. Entry is free, but bring some cash if you want food.”

The activity list is not wrong, but it is not needed for this task.

Step 3: Explain culture when it matters

Sometimes a word cannot simply travel from one language to another.

Example: Schulfest can be explained as “a school event with food, games and activities for students and families.”

Do not turn one culture into a stereotype. Explain the specific thing in the specific situation.

Useful phrases:

“It’s a kind of ...”
“It’s an event where ...”
“In this school, students usually ...”
“Here, this means ...”

Deutsch-Hilfe, nur wenn nötig: Erkläre nur das, was ohne kulturellen Kontext missverständlich wäre.

Step 4: Rephrase, do not translate word by word

Mediation is about meaning.

Source: “Bitte denkt daran, dass die Einverständniserklärung spätestens am Donnerstag im Sekretariat abgegeben werden muss.”

Useful mediation: “You need to hand in the permission form at the school office by Thursday.”

Not useful: a word-for-word version that sounds unnatural or adds no value.

Listening and viewing

Watch this British Council video about keeping a conversation going. You do not need to understand every word. Focus on strategies that help communication continue.

Viewing task:

Notice one phrase for showing interest.
Notice one way to ask a follow-up question.
Decide which strategy could help during mediation when something is unclear.

After viewing, try: “Sorry, do you mean ...?” “So the important point is ...?” “Can you say that again, please?”

Feedback check: If your question helps you get the missing meaning, it works.

Listening challenge: Pick the key facts

Read this script once as if you were listening to two speakers.

Speaker A: “The youth centre is running a film night on Friday. Doors open at half past six, and the film starts at seven. It’s free, but you need to book online because there are only sixty places.”

Speaker B: “And people can buy popcorn and drinks there. The centre is next to the sports hall. Last month they showed a superhero film.”

Task: Your German-speaking friend asks: “Kann ich spontan kommen und kostet es etwas?”

Your mediation should contain only the information needed for those two questions.

Model after you try: “Der Eintritt ist kostenlos, aber du solltest vorher online buchen, weil es nur begrenzte Plätze gibt.”

Improve it: Add the day only if it helps your friend plan.

Reading

Short source text: A school exchange afternoon

Source text:

“On Wednesday, exchange students can join an after-school activity from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. They can choose between drama, basketball and a photography walk. Students should meet in the main hall at 3:20. The activity is free. The photography group will go outside, so students should bring a rain jacket if the weather is bad. The school café will close at 4:30.”

Task A: Your exchange partner wants to join basketball. Tell them when and where to meet and what it costs.

Task B: Your exchange partner wants to do photography. Add one extra piece of relevant information.

Task C: Which detail can you drop in both tasks?

Suggested answer after you try: Task A: “Meet in the main hall at 3:20 on Wednesday. Basketball is free and runs until 5 p.m.” Task B: Add: “Bring a rain jacket if the weather is bad.” Task C: The café closing time is not needed here.

Read like a mediator

Do not highlight everything. Mark information with a purpose.

Try this code:

K = keep
S = shorten
E = explain
X = leave out

Then compare your choices with the task, not with another learner’s colours. Two different choices can both work if they serve the same audience and purpose.

Vocabulary in context

Phrase	Meaning in this course	Example
relevant information	information the target person needs	The deadline is relevant if your friend wants to sign up.
extra detail	information that may be true but is not needed	The colour of the poster is extra detail.
to shorten	to keep the meaning with fewer words	Shorten a long activity list to “several sports and games”.
to explain	to add short context	Explain what a school assembly is if the listener may not know it.
audience	the person or group receiving your message	A host family and a close friend may need different tone.
purpose	what the communication should achieve	The purpose may be to help someone decide, find or book something.
to clarify	to make meaning clearer	Ask a question to clarify a time or place.

Pronunciation for clear mediation

Your goal is being understood, not losing your accent.

Practise stress on the information words:

“Meet at the MAIN HALL at THREE TWENTY.” “You need to BOOK ONLINE.” “Bring a RAIN JACKET.”

Try once slowly, then once at a natural pace. If you record yourself, keep the recording private unless you actively choose to share it. Recording is optional.

Speaking

30-second mediation

Partner A reads a short notice. Partner B only hears the mediation.

Round 1: Mediate the three most important points in 30 seconds.

Round 2: Partner B asks one follow-up question.

Round 3: Improve the mediation with one clearer phrase.

Useful repair phrases:

“The main point is ...”
“You don’t need the whole list; the important thing is ...”
“By that, they mean ...”
“Let me explain that.”
“I’m not sure. Let me check.”

Informal discussion

Discuss:

“Is it ever a problem to leave information out?”

Give one reason and one example. Listen to another view before you answer.

Possible frame if needed: “I think leaving information out is okay when ..., but it becomes a problem when ...”

Writing

Write a useful message

Source: “Der Jugendtreff veranstaltet am Samstag von 15 bis 18 Uhr einen offenen Spielenachmittag. Es gibt Brettspiele, Tischkicker und eine kleine Gaming-Ecke. Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos. Wer an einem Mini-Turnier teilnehmen möchte, muss sich bis Freitag per E-Mail anmelden. Getränke können vor Ort gekauft werden.”

Situation: Your English-speaking friend only wants to know if the event costs money and whether they must register.

Write a message of 25–40 words.

Check before you submit:

Did you answer both questions?
Did you avoid unnecessary details?
Did you keep the original meaning?
Does the message sound natural?

Possible answer after you try: “The games afternoon is free. You only need to register by email by Friday if you want to join the mini-tournament. Otherwise, you can just come on Saturday.”

Mediation focus: Decide what matters

Use this four-question filter:

Need? Does the target person need it?
Action? Does it change what they should do?
Meaning? Would leaving it out change the message?
Culture? Could the term be confusing without a short explanation?

If the answer is “no” four times, the detail is probably safe to leave out.

Cultural explanation without stereotypes

Situation: A German notice mentions a Nikolausaktion at school.

Weak mediation: “Germans always celebrate this at school.”

Better: “At this school, there is a St Nicholas activity. Students receive a small treat or message.”

The better version explains the local situation without making a claim about everyone.

Functional grammar

Grammar supports the task. It is not the task.

Useful forms:

need to / have to for necessary actions: “You need to book online.”
can for options: “You can join basketball.”
if for conditions: “If you want to join the tournament, register by Friday.”
because for short reasons: “Book early because places are limited.”
present simple for schedules and facts: “The event starts at seven.”
will when you make a simple prediction or offer: “I’ll check the time for you.”

Avoid adding grammar that makes the message heavier than the source.

Controlled E-outlook: past perfect

You do not need the past perfect for the mediation tasks in this course.

E-outlook only: If two past events must be clearly ordered, you may sometimes see a form such as “The film had started when we arrived.” First event: the film started. Second event: we arrived.

No passive or reported-speech focus is needed here.

Staged help

Help 1: English first

Ask yourself: “What does this person need?”

Help 2: Context

Look at headings, times, prices, places, deadlines and instructions. Use the situation to guess meaning before using a dictionary.

Help 3: Language hint

Start with: “The important thing is ...”, “You need to ...”, “You can ...”, “It means ...”

Help 4: German help if needed

Frage: Wer braucht was – und wozu? Markiere nur Informationen, die diese Frage beantworten. Kürze Beispiele und Listen. Erkläre kulturelle Begriffe kurz, wenn sie sonst missverständlich wären.

Feedback: Improve, do not replace

Use this quick feedback code on your own or a partner’s text:

R = relevant
C = clear
A = accurate
E = explained when needed

Give one success and one next step.

Example: “R and A are strong. For C, make the deadline easier to see.”

If you use AI for feedback, check whether the feedback fits your English level and the task. Do not let AI replace your own text. Do not send private data, private recordings or real social-media profiles to external tools without permission.

Mini-transfer

You are at a station. An English-speaking visitor shows you a German notice:

“Wegen Bauarbeiten fährt der Bus 4 heute nicht vom Hauptbahnhof. Bitte nutzen Sie die Ersatzhaltestelle vor dem Theater. Fahrkarten bleiben gültig.”

You have ten seconds.

Your goal: Give only what the visitor needs to continue the journey.

Try: “Bus 4 does not leave from the main station today. Use the temporary stop in front of the theatre. Your ticket is still valid.”

Now shorten it to the two most urgent points.

Self-check: Can do?

Rate yourself: Yes / Almost / Not yet.

I can identify the audience.
I can identify the purpose.
I can keep the key facts.
I can drop extra detail.
I can explain a culture-specific term simply.
I can ask for clarification.
I can improve a mediation after feedback.

If you choose “Almost” or “Not yet”, repeat one short task. Change the audience or purpose so that you must decide again.

Follow-on course

Next step: E7 E - Mediate for different audiences. There you change tone and detail for a friend, a host family and a school contact.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you decide first in a mediation task? (Who needs the information and why) (!How many sentences the source has) (!Which word is longest) (!Which grammar tense is most difficult)

Which information is usually relevant? (Information that helps the target person act or understand) (!Every detail in the source) (!Only names and adjectives) (!Only information you find interesting)

What does shorten mean in mediation? (Keep the meaning but use fewer words) (!Delete the main message) (!Translate every word) (!Add new examples)

When should you explain a cultural term? (When the target person may not understand it without context) (!Every time you see a noun) (!Only when the text is very long) (!Never in mediation)

Which phrase is useful for clarification? (Do you mean that we need to book first) (!I will ignore that point) (!This detail is definitely useless) (!I know every word already)

What is a good reason to leave out a detail? (It does not help the target person with the task) (!It is written in the first sentence) (!It contains a number) (!It sounds interesting)

Which sentence avoids a cultural stereotype? (At this school students have a St Nicholas activity) (!All Germans do exactly the same thing) (!Every British school works in one way) (!People from one country always think alike)

What is the main goal of pronunciation in this course? (Being understood clearly) (!Sounding exactly like one accent) (!Speaking as fast as possible) (!Avoiding all pauses)

Which grammar form is useful for a necessary action? (You need to book online) (!You might purple online) (!Booking was blue) (!The event quickly)

What should AI feedback do in this course? (Support checking while your own text stays yours) (!Write the whole task instead of you) (!Use private recordings automatically) (!Make the language harder than your level)

Memory

Audience	Person receiving the message
Purpose	Goal of the communication
Relevant	Needed for the task
Shorten	Keep meaning with fewer words
Clarify	Make meaning clearer
Context	Information around a word or situation

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
KEEP	Essential task information
SHORTEN	Useful but too detailed information
EXPLAIN	Culture-specific information
DROP	Irrelevant extra information
CLARIFY	Unclear information that needs checking

Kreuzworträtsel

relevant	What kind of information does the target person need?
audience	Who receives your mediated message?
context	What helps you understand an unfamiliar word or situation?
culture	What may need a short explanation to prevent misunderstanding?
summary	What is a shorter version that keeps the key meaning?
detail	What can often be removed when it does not serve the task?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Key facts: Create a six-line event notice. Ask a partner to choose the three facts that matter for a visitor who wants to attend.
Audience: Write two target-person cards, for example “friend” and “host family”. Decide which details each person would need from the same notice.
Culture clue: Choose one school term such as “Schulfest” or “AG” and explain it in one simple English sentence without stereotypes.
Private speaking practice: Record a voluntary 20-second mediation on your own device, listen once and delete or keep it privately. No upload is required.

Standard

Mediation message: Turn a 100-word German school notice into a 35-word English message for a fictional exchange student.
Viewing strategy: Watch a short age-appropriate English clip chosen by your teacher and note only three facts that matter for a given task.
Information filter: Create a KEEP-SHORTEN-EXPLAIN-DROP table for a short text and justify two choices in English.
Perspective change: Mediate the same source once for a friend and once for an adult school contact. Compare tone and detail.

Schwer

Live mediation: In a three-person role-play, one person has the source, one mediates and one asks follow-up questions. Switch roles.
Culture without cliché: Find a real public information text about a local event. Explain one culture-specific element carefully and state what you cannot generalise from it.
Mediation redesign: Take an overlong mediation and cut it by one third without losing any task-relevant meaning. Explain every cut.
Mini presentation: Give a one-minute talk: “Three rules for deciding what matters in mediation.” Use one original example and answer one question.

Lernkontrolle

New audience: You receive a school notice and two different target persons. Decide what each one needs and produce two different short mediations.
Reasoned selection: Mark five source details as KEEP, SHORTEN, EXPLAIN or DROP and justify your choices from the task.
Repair communication: A partner gives incomplete information. Ask two clarification questions, then produce an improved mediation.
Culture in context: Explain one culture-specific school term so that an exchange student can understand the situation without a stereotype.
Transfer under time pressure: Mediate the key message of a short public notice in 20 seconds, then explain which information you left out and why.
Feedback revision: Revise a first draft after R-C-A-E feedback and highlight one change that improved usefulness.

Lernnachweis

For a strong learning record, show that you can:

identify audience and purpose;
distinguish relevant from irrelevant information;
shorten without changing meaning;
explain culture-specific information when needed;
use clear, natural English rather than word-for-word translation;
ask for clarification and repair misunderstandings;
adapt detail and tone to the situation;
reflect on feedback and improve your own work;
handle media and recordings responsibly and privately.

The learning record should use fictional profiles or public classroom materials, not private social-media data. Recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless you actively agree to share them in a safe school setting.

OERs zum Thema

The Wikipedia article below gives background on mediation in the Common European Framework context. It is more advanced than this course, so use it for teacher support or extension.

Weitere freie und geprüfte Medien

Wikimedia Commons: Speech bubbles.svg – conversation visual, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Wikimedia Commons: Students in classroom.jpg – classroom photo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikimedia Commons: Students in class.png – classroom image, CC0.
Wikimedia Commons: Speech bubble icon.svg – communication icon, CC0.
Wikimedia Commons: UK and Germany Location map-01.svg – location map, CC BY-SA.
British Council: How to keep a conversation going in English – speaking video used for communication strategies.
British Council LearnEnglish Teens: A2 listening – optional listening practice.

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