Exploring Prospective English Language Teachers’ Engagement in Mediation: Insights from a Practicum Study
Abstract
The study, in line with the view of teachers’ professional identity development as socio-cultural engagement, aims to explore how prospective English language teachers respond to the concept of mediation in theory and practice during their practicum study. Drawing on a broader vision of mediation anchored by critical-reflexivity, the study investigates the dynamics influencing prospective teachers’ conceptualization of mediation and their potential as well as enacted ways of relating their emerging professional vision to teaching. Grounded in case study methodology, qualitative corpora comprise reflective tasks, lesson plans, macro-teaching experiences as well as audio-recording of class discussions. Data is analysed in the progression of the course by applying content analysis and the emerging themes are discussed in relation to new descriptors on mediation proposed by the Council of Europe. The research findings reveal sensitized awareness of the versatile role mediation plays in relating to interculturality and inclusion in education but also show gaps in student teachers’ conceptualization of mediation and this raises questions on their pedagogical readiness to enact mediation in practice. In tune with socio-constructive view of teacher identity development, the study addresses personal, social, historical and political factors influencing the processes of mediation and invites further thought in defining and researching mediation in social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Keywords
References
- Atmacasoy, A. (2025). What characterizes the language instruction in homogeneous and heterogeneous preparatory classes for refugee and migrant children in monolingual school contexts? A comparative case study from Türkiye and Germany. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 28, 609–637.
- Baraldi, C. (2023). A framework for understanding intercultural mediation from the standpoint of a systemic theory of communication. In D. Busch (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of intercultural mediation (pp. 320-328). Routledge.
- Beauchamp, C., & Thomas, L. (2009). Understanding teacher identity: An overview of issues in the literature and implications for teacher education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 39(2), 175-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057640902902252
- Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications.
- Busch, D. (Ed.). (2023). The Routledge handbook of intercultural mediation. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003227441
- Byram, M. (2021). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence: Revisited (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781800410251
- Byram, M., & Sheils, J. (2023). Introduction-quality and equity in education: The Council of Europe vision. In M. Byram, M. Fleming, & J. Sheils, (Eds.), Quality and equity in education: A practical guide to the Council of Europe vision of education for plurilingual, intercultural, and democratic citizenship (pp.1-20). Multilingual Matters.
- Corbett, J. (2021). Revisiting mediation: Implications for intercultural language education. Language and Intercultural Communication, 21(1), 8-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2020.1833897
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Education Policy, Social Cognition, Intercultural Psychology
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Özlem Etuş
*
0000-0001-9695-5968
Türkiye
Publication Date
May 31, 2026
Submission Date
August 6, 2025
Acceptance Date
December 2, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1