Attitudes towards Linguistic Mediation in the Context of Secondary Education

Abstract

The present study arises from the recent rise of linguistic mediation in the language teaching classroom. Although the concept of linguistic mediation appears as one of the underpinnings of communicative competence in the Common European Framework for Languages, it is now that has started to be considered seriously. Our study pursues a double objective. On the one hand, it aims to know the attitudes and ideas about linguistic mediation of a group of 88 students of second year of Bachillerato. On the other, we want to know if their level of foreign language is related to those ideas and attitudes. The results seem to indicate remarkable lack of knowledge about linguistic mediation. In addition, a significant majority felt insecure when performing mediation activities and considered it was necessary to be trained in order to perform correctly. Finally, no correlation was found between a higher level of foreign language and a greater knowledge of mediation, or greater security in carrying out those activities. All this reinforces the idea of the need for training in linguistic mediation in the foreign language classroom.