E6 M - I can mediate – English 6

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E6 M - I can mediate – English 6

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Einleitung

E6 M - I can mediate – English 6 trains you to pass on the important meaning between English and German. You do not translate every word. You listen or read, choose what matters for the other person, and say it simply and politely.

Mini-description: Du vermittelst zentrale Informationen aus einfachen zweisprachigen Alltags-, Reise-, Schul- und Kultursituationen sinngemäß und adressatengerecht. Zielgruppe: Klasse 6, M-Niveau, Englisch als erste Fremdsprache in Baden-Württemberg.

Media warm-up – 30 seconds: Look at the sign. Where could you see it? What information might a visitor need?

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YouTube

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Watch only for the main idea first. Which polite words and direction words can you hear? You do not need every word.

I-can goals

1. I can pick the key information. I know what my partner needs.
2. I can mediate English → German. I can pass on single important details orally and short information in German.
3. I can mediate German → English. I can use simple, polite English for requests, wishes and everyday help.
4. I can explain a culture-specific item. I can describe a term when there is no one-word match.
5. I can repair communication. I can ask back, use easier words or point to a sign.

Vorwissen-Check

Try English first.

A. A visitor asks: “Where is the bus stop?” Can you answer with one short direction?

B. Your German friend asks: “Was bedeutet ‘last admission 4:30 pm’?” Can you give the meaning in German without translating every word?

C. You do not know one English word. What can you do instead?

Hint

Think: place – time – action. For C: ask, describe, point or use a simpler word.

German help

Du musst nicht Wort für Wort übersetzen. Überlege zuerst: Welche Information braucht die andere Person?

Notice → understand → practise → use

Notice: What does a mediator do?

Mediation is meaning transfer. You are a language bridge between people, signs, messages or short texts. Good mediation is:

1. relevant: give the information the person needs;
2. clear: use short connected sentences;
3. polite: use suitable phrases such as “Excuse me”, “please”, “You can …”;
4. flexible: if a word is missing, explain it in easier words.

Think: A German-speaking family sees this symbol. What do they need to know? A useful answer is short: “Das Schild zeigt den Weg zum Flughafen.”

Understand: Travel information

Situation: Your cousin Lea speaks little English. She wants to get to a museum.

Fictional bus notice: “Bus 24 to City Museum. Every 15 minutes. Get off at River Street. Children under 12: £1.50.”

Task: Tell Lea the three most useful facts in German.

Hint

Which bus? Where to get off? What does a child ticket cost?

German help

Lass unwichtige Wörter weg. Nenne Busnummer, Haltestelle und Preis.

Example

Start with: „Du kannst den Bus … nehmen.“

Solution

Du kannst den Bus 24 zum City Museum nehmen. Steig an der River Street aus. Für Kinder unter zwölf kostet die Fahrt 1,50 Pfund.

Map challenge: Do not read every station. Point to one line, one change and one final stop. Then explain the route in simple English.

Mini-dialogue: Visitor: “Excuse me, does this bus go to the City Museum?” You: “Yes. Take bus 24 and get off at River Street.” Visitor: “Thank you. Is it far?” You: “No. It is about ten minutes.”

Practise: Station board

Fictional announcement: “The 10:20 train to Brighton leaves from platform 6. It is delayed by ten minutes.”

Your German-speaking partner asks: “Was ist los?”

Try English first → Hint → German help → example → solution

Hint

Time + destination + platform + delay.

German help

Übertrage nur die Kerninformationen. „delayed“ bedeutet „verspätet“.

Example

„Der Zug nach …“

Solution

Der Zug nach Brighton fährt um 10:20 Uhr von Gleis 6 und hat zehn Minuten Verspätung.

Use: At a café

Fictional mini-menu for the task:

Veggie wrap £4.50 – chicken sandwich £5.20 – apple juice £2.00 – water £1.50.

Mia says in German: „Ich esse kein Fleisch und habe fünf Pfund. Was kann ich nehmen?“

Mediate to the café worker: “She doesn’t eat meat. She has five pounds. Is the veggie wrap okay?”

Then answer Mia in German with the useful information.

Communication grammar: Use forms you already know: can, have/has, there is/are, simple present, simple past for finished events, and polite requests. Grammar helps the message; it is not the main goal.

School situation

Fictional school message:

“Riverside School: The football club meets on Tuesday at 3:30 pm in the sports hall. Bring trainers and a bottle of water. New students are welcome.”

Your English-speaking exchange partner asks: “Was steht da?”

Your job: Explain it in simple English if the original note is German, or in German if the original note is English. Keep the purpose in mind: your partner wants to join.

Useful chunks: “It starts at …” – “You need …” – “You can …” – “You don’t have to …” – “It is in …”

Culture without clichés

A cultural place is not “all of Britain”. One photo shows one place and one situation.

Fictional museum notice: “Free entry. Last admission 4:30 pm. Please leave large bags in the locker area.”

Tell a German-speaking family what they need to know before going in.

Culture-specific words: If a word has no easy one-word match, explain it. Example: “school assembly” can be explained as “ein gemeinsames Treffen vieler Schülerinnen und Schüler in der Schule”.

Pronunciation for clear communication

Goal: be easy to understand, not accent-free. Stress important words and speak in short groups.

Listen and repeat: “Excuse me.”

Listen and repeat: “please.”

Try these short phrases:

1. “Excuse me, can you help?”
2. “Please speak slowly.”
3. “Do you mean platform six?”
4. “Sorry, can you say that again?”

Mini speaking loop: say it once → listen to yourself if you want → improve one thing → say it again. Recording is voluntary and private.

Reading: What matters?

Read the message:

“Hi Ben, the class trip starts at 8:15 on Friday. Meet at the main entrance. Bring a packed lunch, a rain jacket and your student card. We return at about 4 pm.”

Your German-speaking parent asks: „Wann musst du da sein und was brauchst du?“

Good mediation: „Ich soll am Freitag um 8:15 Uhr am Haupteingang sein. Ich brauche ein Lunchpaket, eine Regenjacke und meinen Schülerausweis. Wir sind ungefähr um 16 Uhr zurück.“

Notice: The answer keeps the meaning but changes the form.

Short writing output

Write a 3–5 sentence message for one situation:

1. A German guest needs the key facts from an English school notice.
2. An English-speaking visitor needs help with a German museum sign.
3. A friend needs the main travel information from a short announcement.

Checklist: key information – clear order – polite language – your own words.

Mediation repair kit

When you get stuck, use a simple strategy:

1. Ask back: “Do you mean …?”
2. Ask for time: “One moment, please.”
3. Say it more simply: “It’s a place where …”
4. Point to information: “Look, it says platform 6.”
5. Check: “Is that clear?”

Feedback and use again

After a mediation task, get feedback on only three points:

1. Message: Did the other person get the important information?
2. Language: Was it clear and polite?
3. Strategy: Did you repair a problem?

Then do the same task again with one change: a new time, place, person or purpose.

Safe media and AI use

Use fictional names and data in your own tasks. Recordings are voluntary and private. Do not upload voices, photos or school data unless a teacher and the people involved have agreed.

If you use AI in class, check the result, compare it with the source and write the final mediation in your own words. Do not send personal data to external AI services.

Can-do check

Mark for yourself: not yet – almost – yes.

1. I can find the key information in a short message.
2. I can pass on single details English → German.
3. I can use simple English for German → English mediation.
4. I can use polite phrases.
5. I can explain a difficult word with easier words.
6. I can ask back when I do not understand.

Follow-up course

Next step: I can ask and clarify. Practise short follow-up questions, checking meaning and helping a conversation continue.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main goal of mediation? (To pass on the important meaning) (!To translate every word) (!To use the longest sentence) (!To avoid asking questions)

What should you do first with a short notice? (Find the information the other person needs) (!Copy every sentence) (!Change every noun) (!Ignore the purpose)

Which phrase is polite when you need help? (Excuse me, can you help?) (!Give me the answer.) (!You must talk now.) (!I want this.)

What can you do if one English word is missing? (Explain it with easier words) (!Stop the conversation) (!Invent a new fact) (!Translate every other word)

A train is delayed. What information is most useful? (The new travel information) (!The colour of the train) (!The name of the driver) (!The weather yesterday)

What does addressee-friendly mediation mean? (You choose information for the person and situation) (!You always use formal language) (!You speak as fast as possible) (!You give all details)

Which is a good repair phrase? (Sorry, can you say that again?) (!Never mind, I stop.) (!Speak perfect English.) (!Translate this word for word.)

What is more important than sounding accent-free? (Being easy to understand) (!Using difficult words) (!Speaking very quickly) (!Sounding exactly like one speaker)

How should you use AI for a mediation task? (Check it and write the final version in your own words) (!Copy it without checking) (!Upload private school data) (!Use it instead of reading the source)

What can a culture-specific word need? (A short explanation) (!A stereotype) (!A made-up translation) (!No context)

Memory

key information	Kerninformation
platform	Gleis
admission	Einlass
packed lunch	Lunchpaket
polite request	höfliche Bitte
ask back	nachfragen
explain	beschreiben

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Choose key facts	understand
Use a polite phrase	speak
Explain a missing word	repair
Check the other person understood	feedback
Try the task a second time	use again

Kreuzworträtsel

meaning	What do you pass on instead of translating every word?
polite	How should a request sound?
platform	Where can a train leave from?
explain	What can you do when one word is missing?
message	What can contain key information for another person?
clarify	What can you do when meaning is not clear?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

In mediation, you pass on the important for another person. First, find the in the message. A polite start can be . If one word is missing, you can it with easier words. At a station, a useful detail can be the . After speaking, you can ask if everything is . Good mediation is not a word-for-word . After feedback, use the improved language .

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Mediation card: Create a small card with five useful phrases for asking, explaining and checking.
2. Travel sign: Choose one Commons travel image in this MOOC and write two useful English sentences about the information a visitor needs.
3. School notice: Write a fictional two-sentence English school notice and underline the three key facts.
4. Pronunciation practice: Practise “Excuse me” and “please”; record yourself only if you want and keep the recording private.

Standard

1. Café role play: In pairs, one person has a short menu and one person has a German request. Mediate the useful information.
2. Station helper: Create a fictional departure message and mediate it orally into German in no more than four sentences.
3. Museum helper: Write a short German museum rule and mediate it into simple English for a visitor.
4. Help ladder: Design your own Try English first → Hint → German help → example → solution support for one mediation task.

Schwer

1. Information choice: Write a six-sentence English notice, then create two different addressees who each need different facts. Mediate differently for each person.
2. Culture explainer: Pick one school or everyday term and explain it in simple English without using a stereotype.
3. Mediation interview: Ask a classmate which repair strategy helps most, summarize the answer in three English sentences and do not publish names.
4. Mini mediation project: Create a one-minute private classroom role play with travel, school or culture information. Use only fictional data and no external upload.

Lernkontrolle

1. Relevant information: A fictional station notice contains six facts. Explain which three facts are relevant for a traveller who is late and why.
2. Addressing the listener: Mediate the same short school notice once for a classmate and once for a parent. Explain what you changed.
3. Communication repair: In a role play, you do not know one important word. Use two different strategies to keep the conversation going.
4. Politeness in action: Turn a direct German request into simple, polite English and explain which words make it polite.
5. Culture in context: Explain a culture-specific school term in two easy sentences without generalising about all people in a country.
6. Transfer task: Read a new short bilingual situation and produce a 4–5 sentence mediation that keeps the purpose but not the wording.

Lernnachweis

For a good learning record, show that you can:

1. identify key information in short everyday, travel, school and culture texts;
2. mediate single spoken or written details between English and German;
3. use simple polite English;
4. explain one unfamiliar or culture-specific item;
5. use at least one repair strategy;
6. improve a first version after feedback;
7. work with fictional or protected data and formulate the final message yourself.

OERs zum Thema

Wikipedia background on language learning:

Curriculum reference: Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg – Englisch als erste Fremdsprache – Klassen 5/6 – Sprachmittlung

Free media used in this MOOC: Wikimedia Commons file pages provide the licence information for each image and audio file. The video comes from BBC Learning English on YouTube.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Englisch Klasse 6 Sprachmittlung Hörverstehen Leseverstehen Sprechen Schreiben Aussprache Interkulturelle kommunikative Kompetenz Wortschatz Reisen Schule