Spotlight on Language Instruction in Germany : the Journey from Translation to Mediation

Kurzfassung/Abstract

This article aims to introduce the potential that mediation holds for foreign language education and connects it to the path taken in the public German school system.
After defining the concept of mediation and outlining the backgrounds of why mediation has mostly replaced traditional translation methods in German foreign language teaching in this century, an in-depth depiction of the mediation process (e.g. importance of being able to transfer the meaning and intentions, instead of a word-by-word translation) is given. A passage on key strategies that can assist learners in mediation tasks follows, before discussing and connecting these with competencies needed for a successful mediation process (e.g. cultural awareness, critical thinking). To conclude then, the shift from translation to mediation that has taken place in Germany has established a new, complex, and immersive approach to foreign language teaching and learning that centers communication learning – a central asset in an ever more globalized world.