Journals / Current Research in Social Sciences / 2026 / Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1

Exploring Prospective English Language Teachers’ Engagement in Mediation: Insights from a Practicum Study

İngilizce Öğretmen Adaylarının Aracılık Olgusu ile Etkileşimi: Öğretmenlik Uygulaması Çalışmalarına Yakın Bir Bakış

Özlem Etuş(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ-CERRAHPAŞA, HASAN ALİ YÜCEL EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİ, YABANCI DİLLER EĞİTİMİ BÖLÜMÜ, İNGİLİZCE ÖĞRETMENLİĞİ PR. (İNGİLİZCE))0000-0001-9695-5968
Pages
124–143
Publication Date
2026-05-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

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.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis: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.
📊
Key Findings & Data: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.
💡
Conclusion & Impact: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.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Aracılık · İngilizce Öğretmeni Yetiştirme · Öğretmenlik Uygulaması

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.

Özet

Öğretmenlerin mesleki kimlik gelişimini toplumsal-kültürel katılımcılık olarak değerlendiren bir bakış açısını benimseyen bu çalışma, İngilizce öğretmen adaylarının aracılık kavramına kuram ve uygulama boyutuyla yaklaşımını öğretmenlik uygulaması çalışmaları kapsamında incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Eleştirel- yansıtmalı bir anlayışla aracılık kavramını daha geniş bir eksende ele alan çalışma, öğretmen adaylarının aracılık unsurunu kavramsallaştırmada ve gelişim sürecindeki pedagojik öngörülerini eylem ve planlarında uygulamaya yansıtmada etki payı olan dinamikleri araştırmaktadır. Durum çalışması yöntemini benimseyen çalışmada nitel veri bütününü yansıtma raporları, ders planları, makro uygulamalar ve sınıf içi tartışmaların ses kayıtları oluşturmaktadır. Veri ardışık olarak dersin ilerleyişi içerisinde incelenmiş, ortaya çıkan temalar Avrupa Konseyinin önerdiği yeni aracılık tanımlayıcıları ile ilişkilendirilerek tartışılmıştır. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgular öğretmen adaylarının aracılık kavramının eğitimde kültürlerarasılık ve katılımcılık konularına bağlı olarak üstlendiği çok yönlü role ilişkin farkındalık geliştirdiklerini ancak kavramı tanımlama ve öğretime yansıtma yetkinliklerinde boşluklar bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Toplumsal- bilişsel yapılandırmacı yaklaşımla öğretmen kimlik gelişimine bakan bu çalışma, aracılık süreçlerini etkileyen kişisel, toplumsal, tarihsel ve politik etmenlere değinmekte, sosyal bilimlerde disiplinlerarası bir bakışla aracılık kavramının tanımlanması ve araştırılması yönünde çağrıda bulunmaktadır

🔖

Cite This Article

Etuş, Ö. (2026). Exploring Prospective English Language Teachers’ Engagement in Mediation: Insights from a Practicum Study. Current Research in Social Sciences, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1, 124–143. https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1759686

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (37)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications.
  5. Busch, D. (Ed.). (2023). The Routledge handbook of intercultural mediation. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003227441
  6. Byram, M. (2021). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence: Revisited (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781800410251
  7. 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.
  8. 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
  9. Council of Europe (2001). Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge University Press.
  10. Council of Europe (2018). Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Companion volume with new descriptors. https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989
  11. Dado, M., Spence, J. R., & Elliot, J. (2023). The case of contradictions: How prolonged engagement, reflexive journaling, and observations can contradict qualitative methods. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231189372
  12. Dendrinos, B. (2022). A data-driven curriculum with mediation descriptors for plurilingual education. In D. Little & N. Figueras (Eds.), Reflecting on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its Companion Volume (pp. 101-112). Multilingual Matters.
  13. Douglas Fir Group. (2016). A transdisciplinary framework for SLA in a multilingual world. The Modern Language Journal, 100, 19-47.
  14. Gezer, M. Ü., & Dixon, L. Q. (2021). An overview of Turkey’s policy development in TESOL and multilingualism. In K. Raza, C. Coombe, & D. Reynolds (Eds.), Policy development in TESOL and multilingualism: Past, present and the way forward (pp. 257-270). Springer.
  15. Holliday, A. (2023). Using creative non-fiction to pinpoint moments of decentring in intercultural mediation. In D. Busch (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of intercultural mediation (pp. 229-236). Routledge.
  16. Johnson, K. E., & Golombek, P. R. (2018). Making L2 teacher education matter through Vygotskian-inspired pedagogy and research. In J. P. Lantolf, M. E. Poehner, & M. Swain (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of sociocultural theory and second language development (pp. 443-456). Routledge.
  17. Kantarcıoğlu, E. (2022). The CEFR Companion Volume and mediation: An assessment perspective. In D. Little & N. Figueras (Eds.), Reflecting on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its Companion Volume (pp. 171-183). Multilingual Matters.
  18. Kearney, E. (2019). Professional (re)visions of language teaching for interculturality. In B. Dupuy & K. Michelson (Eds.), The American Association of University Supervisors, Coordinators and Directors of Foreign Languages Programs (AAUSC) 2019 Volume- Pathways to paradigm change: Critical examination of prevailing discourses and ideologies in second language education (pp. 248-275). Cengage. http://hdl.handle.net/102015/69800
  19. Kırkgöz, Y. (2007). English language teaching in Turkey: Policy changes and their implementations. RELC Journal, 38(2), 216-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688207079696 König, J., Santagata, R., Scheiner, T., Adleff, A. K., Yang, X., & Kaiser, G. (2022). Teacher noticing: A systematic literature review of conceptualizations, research designs, and findings on learning to notice. Educational Research Review, 36, Article 100453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2022.100453
  20. Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and culture in language teaching. Oxford University Press.
  21. Kramsch, C. (2009a). Discourse, the symbolic dimension of intercultural competence. In A. Hu & M. Byram (Eds.), Interkulturelle kompetenz und fremdsprachliches lernen/Intercultural competence and foreign language learning: Models, empiricism, assessment (pp. 107-122). Narr Dr. Gunter.
  22. Kramsch, C. (2009b). Cultural perspectives on language learning and teaching. In K. Knapp & B. Seildhofer (Eds.), Handbook of foreign language communication and learning (pp. 219-246). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
  23. Kremmel, B., Eberharter, K., Konrad, E., Guggenbichler, E., Moser-Frötscher, D., Ebner, V., & Spöttl, C. (2023). The CEFR Companion Volume: Opportunities and challenges for language assessment. DiSlaw – Didaktik slawischer Sprachen. Special Issue / Sonderausgabe, 65-83.
  24. Lazarides, R., Schiefele, U., Daumiller, M., & Dresel, M. (2025). From teacher motivation to teaching behaviour: A systematic review and theoretical framework of the mediating processes. Educational Research Review, 48, Article 100703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2025.100703
  25. Lenz, P. (2022). Some thoughts about the testing of mediation. In D. Little & N. Figueras (Eds.), Reflecting on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its Companion Volume (pp. 113-121). Multilingual Matters.
  26. Li, L. (2017). Social interaction and teacher cognition. Edinburg University Press. Liddicoat, A. (2022). Intercultural mediation in language teaching and learning. In T. McConachy, I. Golubeva, & M. Wagner (Eds.), Intercultural learning in language education and beyond: Evolving concepts, perspectives and practices (pp. 41-59). Multilingual Matters.
  27. Lincoln, Y. S., Lynham, S. A., & Guba, E. G. (2011). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences, revisited. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 4(2), 97-128.
  28. Negretti, R., & Khuder, B. (2024). Case studies. In M. Kressler & C. Polio (Eds.), Conducting genre-based research in applied linguistics (pp. 13-34). Routledge.
  29. North B., & Piccardo E. (2016). Developing illustrative descriptors of aspects of mediation for the CEFR, Education Policy Division, Council of Europe.
  30. O’Sullivan, B. (2022). Making the CEFR work: Considerations for a future roadmap. In D. Little & N. Figueras (Eds.), Reflecting on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its Companion Volume (pp.187-202). Multilingual Matters.
  31. Ördem, E. (2021). Exclusionary practices of English language teaching departments in Turkey: Radical pedagogy, British colonialism and neoliberalism. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 54(2), 170–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2021.1888710
  32. Risager, K. (2025). Critical interculturality in a global perspective: A matter of geopolitical position, sociocultural nexus, and existential relevance. In F. Dervin (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of critical interculturality in communication and education (pp. 24-38). Routledge.
  33. Saldaña, J. (2021). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (4th ed.). Sage Publication.
  34. Shoffner, M., Sedberry, T., Alsup, J., & Johnson, T.S. (2014). The difficulty of teacher dispositions: Considering professional dispositions for preservice English teachers. The Teacher Educator, 49(3), 175-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/08878730.2014.917528
  35. Wang, L., & Dai, J. (2024). Screening English teachers’ professional identity, autonomy, and creativity and their relations with their success. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 52, Article 101535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101535
  36. Weger, D. (2025). Exploring the relationship between pre-service teachers’ language biographical experiences and their prospective teaching in linguistically diverse classrooms. Linguistics and Education, 88, Article 101431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2025.101431
  37. Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. (Vol. 6). Sage.