EFL - How can you design a mediation activity based on the CEFR? - Svetlana Stefanova Radoulska

This was the first lecture of Professor Stefanova's Methods for Teaching Skills course at UNIR, where she introduced the course structure and requirements to students including Andrés, Rafael, Yuly, and others. Professor Stefanova explained that the course uses problem-based learning to address real teaching challenges, with four main blocks covering the four macro skills, multimodal texts and motivation, and classroom management. She detailed the project requirement, which involves creating an English Cultural Week celebration integrating the four skills with motivational strategies focused on target language culture rather than personal routines. The professor also covered the Common European Framework, explaining its importance for properly matching teaching activities to student proficiency levels (A1, A2, B1, etc.) and emphasizing the distinction between multilingualism and plurilingualism. She discussed 21st century skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, and intercultural competence that teachers should develop in students. The lecture concluded with an explanation of the four language activities in the Common European Framework (reception, production, interaction, and mediation) and guidance on creating authentic materials appropriate for different proficiency levels. 📌 Timestamps: 0:00 Welcome and introductions 5:00 Course methodology: problem-based learning 11:00 Platform navigation and course structure 19:20 Paul Nation reference (extensive reading) 22:02 English Cultural Week Project 23:45 What the project is about (briefing) 26:13 Activities and Don’ts (Activity 3) 36:44 Group activity: all members must upload 44:58 Activity 1: Reading lesson plan (due Nov 30) 47:37 Difficulty finding authentic material for A1–A2 48:22 Newspapers are not suitable for A1–A2 49:23 Choose 3 texts and reference in APA 7 49:57 All texts must be non-fiction 50:55 Define the communicative purpose of each text 51:23 Explain why each text is suitable for the group 52:00 Design 3 activities (one per text) 56:34 Unit 1: The Common European Framework (CEFR) 57:34 Common problems: mismatching activities to levels 59:40 Level-appropriate tasks and why A2 cannot debate 1:01:38 Why the CEFR exists (history and purpose) 1:03:36 Lesson-plan mistakes: mixing levels in one hour 1:06:54 Using the CEFR to understand level expectations 1:08:08 Broader CEFR aims: autonomy, open-mindedness, cooperation 1:13:55 Multilingualism vs. plurilingualism 1:17:53 21st-century skills: critical thinking and problem solving 1:22:51 Flexibility, initiative, self-direction, social skills 1:27:01 CEFR general competencies 1:29:18 Linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic competences 1:36:23 CEFR language activities: reception, production, interaction, mediation 1:38:42 Mediation in practice (mind maps, infographics, note-taking) 1:42:03 Activities vs. strategies: teaching strategies 1:46:17 Q&A: Turn taking explained 1:52:20 CEFR Companion Volume: turn taking descriptors 1:59:32 Closing remarks and goodbye