PLC 6

PLC 6

By Melinda Jones

-Lantolf (2011) explains that “mediation is the process through which humans deploy culturally constructed artifacts, concepts, and activities to regulate their mental and communicative activity” (p. 24).

-Learning occurs through scaffolding, where a more knowledgeable individual (teacher, peer) provides support that helps a learner progress.

-Zone of Proximal Development comes in to play here. What the student can do independently and what level of assistance they need.

-ELs often rely on material tools (e.g., dictionaries, translation apps) and symbolic tools (e.g., gestures, writing) to aid communication.

Mediation in SLA

Open Ended

Do you think our students rely too much on mediation in their language learning? Could this lead to learned helplessness, where they become overly dependent on external support rather than developing independence?

​Language and Identity

Norton & McKinney (2011) argue that “when language learners speak, they are not only exchanging information with others—they are constantly organizing and reorganizing
a sense of who they are and how they relate to the social world” (p. 73).

The identity approach states that social status affects access to linguistic tools. Think House Cleaner vs. Research Student.

Investment (shaped by social & economic factors) vs. Motivation (internal desire to learn).

Norton (2011) critiques traditional models of motivation, arguing that investment “extends beyond psychological states and is deeply tied to the learners’ perceived future possibilities” (p. 80).

Open Ended

How do you think a person’s motivation to learn a second language changes when they are learning for personal interest versus when they are learning for practical reasons, like work or school?

​Situational Contexts

Both Lantolf (2011) and Norton & McKinney (2011) reject the idea that language learning is linear, arguing that language learning is fluid, influenced by personal experiences and social contexts.

ELs do not acquire language in a strict order. It is a Non-Linear Process

Lantolf (2011) talks about social participation. The more a language learner has to engage with a native speaker, the more their language skills develop.

Norton & McKinney (2011) talk about how self-perception also plays a role. If the speaker feels excluded, they are less likely to try.