ESL Teachers' Mediation In ESL Classroom

Abstract: This paper begins by introducing the theory of Mediation and discussing the role of the teacher-as-mediator based on Social Interactionism, and some theoretical thoughts in psychology which informs our practices in ESL teaching.The concept of Mediation is central to the psychology of the most well known Social Interactionists such as Vygotsky, Bruner and Feuerstein. In the context of the recent educational reforms ,with the focus on learning to learn and problem solving ability, Mediation has exciting implications for the foreign language teachers and their contribution to producing lifelong learners and effective thinkers.Mediation means to use "tools" to solve a problem or achieve a goal, the most important of these tools is language. The concept of mediator differs from a more narrow view of the teacher as disseminator of information. Mediation must be concerned with empowering, with helping learners to acquire the knowledge, skills and strategies they will need in order to progress, to learn more, to tackle problems, to function effectively in a particular culture and a changing society, and to meet new, emerging and unpredictable demands. It is also concerned with helping learners to become autonomous, to take control of their own learning, with the fundamental aim of enabling them to become independent thinkers and problem-solvers.In the final part of the paper the results of a small scale study of teachers and students perceptions of the 12 mediation tools are introduced. This study was conducted in a number of schools and the data provides some interesting and potentially useful insights in the mediation role of the teacher in the ESL classroom and have strong implications for foreign language teaching.