Page 2: Examples and Specific Formats

This page provides concrete examples of mediation in English, focusing on different text types and styles.

Informal Email Example

The page starts with an example of an informal email introduction:

"Hey! How are you doing? I hope you're well. Did you enjoy the trip to your grandparents last weekend? Oh, and by the way, I heard you won the cricket tournament yesterday. Congratulations!"

Highlight: Informal emails can include personal questions and congratulations to establish a friendly tone.

The example continues with a transition to the mediation topic:

"To get to the point, I've done some research for your/our school project. I found a quite interesting article on the internet. Unfortunately, it's written in German, so I'll sum up the important information for you in this email."

Example: "The article was written by [Author Name] and was published in a German magazine [Magazine Name] in [Year]."

Formal Email Example

The page also includes an example of a more formal email introduction:

"Good day Mr./Mrs. [Name],

You mentioned that you are quite interested in the situation of the job market in general, as well as in Germany, and were inquisitive about the impact of digitalization on said market."

Vocabulary: In formal writing, use more sophisticated language such as "inquisitive" instead of "curious."

Report Format

For report-style mediations, the page advises:

• Begin with "Report by [Your Name]" and the topic
• Provide a brief introduction to the subject
• Use questions to engage the reader (e.g., "What is culture?")
• Maintain neutrality and avoid personal opinions
• Conclude with a summary using phrases like "All in all" or "In general"

Definition: A report is a formal document presenting information in a structured format, typically for a specific audience or purpose.

Page 3: Conclusion Techniques and Personal Input

This final page focuses on concluding your English mediation effectively and incorporating personal views when appropriate.

Conclusion Phrases

The page suggests several ways to start your conclusion:

• "In general, one can say that..."
• "In my opinion, I would say that..."
• "Personally, I would say that..."

Highlight: These phrases help signal to the reader that you are summarizing or offering a personal perspective.

Expressing Agreement or Disagreement

When it's appropriate to include your own thoughts, the guide provides examples:

• "I only partly agree with the author and his article..."
• "If you ask me though, I think..."

Example: "While the author makes some valid points about the impact of technology on language, I believe the benefits of linguistic evolution outweigh the drawbacks."

Balancing Objectivity and Personal Input

The page emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between objective reporting and personal commentary:

• Ensure that the main body of your mediation remains neutral and factual
• Reserve personal opinions for the conclusion, if they are requested or appropriate for the task

Vocabulary: Use phrases like "The article suggests..." or "According to the author..." to maintain objectivity when presenting the source material's content.

Definition: Mediation in English involves not only translating content but also adapting it for the target audience while preserving the original message's intent.

By following these guidelines and examples, students can improve their mediation skills in English, creating clear, well-structured, and appropriate texts for various purposes and audiences.

Page 1: General Guidelines for English Mediation

This page outlines the fundamental structure and components of mediation in English. It covers the essential elements for crafting effective mediations across various text types.

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for the mediation task. It should include:

• Text type identification (e.g., email, presentation, report)
• Addressee information (informal for friends, formal for polite correspondence)
• Title, author, and publication date of the source material
• A brief lead-in to the topic

Highlight: Always adapt your language and style to suit the intended audience, whether formal or informal.

Main Body

The main body is where the core mediation work takes place:

• Address the specific task requirements, such as extracting arguments or providing a general summary
• Identify and summarize key aspects from the source text
• Begin forming coherent sentences in the target language

Example: When mediating a text about the job market, you might write: "The article discusses the impact of digitalization on employment opportunities in Germany."

Conclusion

The conclusion wraps up the mediation:

• Provide a brief summary of the main points
• Include your own opinion if appropriate
• Thank the recipient and include a farewell (for emails)

Vocabulary: Use linking words to improve flow, and maintain consistent tense (usually present tense).

Style Tips

• Use appropriate questions to engage the reader
• Capitalize country names (e.g., British, French)
• Employ English quotation marks
• Utilize synonyms, relative clauses, or antonyms to avoid direct translation

Definition: Mediation involves transferring the meaning of a text from one language to another, adapting it for a specific purpose and audience.