The project "Multicultural and multilingual mediation: Second or/and foreign language acquisition and use on the example of German" is intending, on the one hand, to complete the educational profile of students in the field of foreign language (mediation) and, on the other hand, to demonstrate the sociopolitical relevance of language mediation in a globalized world of life and work.

According to the European Framework of Reference, language mediation is: "the generic term for various forms of oral and written transfer of texts into another language [or into another linguistic variety, or into another level of linguistic competence]. What is important in all forms is that the language mediator does not express his/her own intentions in the process, but is an intermediary between interlocutors who cannot understand each other directly." (Council of Europe 2001:89).

In the new companion volume of the CEFR, mediation is "a reducer of distance". Mediation can be defined as any procedure, arrangement or action designed in a given social context to reduce the distance between two (or more) poles of otherness between which there is tension (North Coste/ Cavalli 2015:27).

The present project is intended as an extension of the topic dealt with by the same team in the Blended Intensive Programs in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (organized by the University of Bukarest) and which takes up the concept of mediation in a communicative-pragmatic manner oriented from a pragmatic perspective in the continuation of the content, integrating both psycho- and sociolinguistics as well as linguistic-didactic approaches. In the past these programs have been within the most chosen BIP programs.

Psycholinguistic perspective

Both the language mediators themselves and the recipients have different language acquisition biographies, whose differences lead to the "distances" mentioned in the definition of "language mediation" and for which it is first necessary to be sensitized. Taking into account various theories of language acquisition, different acquisition scenarios (including dual first language acquisition vs. successive second language acquisition, early vs. late second language acquisition, controlled vs. uncontrolled acquisition) and their particularities, will be presented, with special reference to the interplay of linguistic and cultural factors. In terms of language acquisition theory, we are located in the usage-based conception of language acquisition (e.g. Tomasello 2003), which focuses on interaction and the concrete language offer. Language learning takes place situationally. In recurring language actions, processes of schematization and analogy formation or pattern finding are stimulated. 

Sociolinguistic perspective

Following this first phase of study, variational linguistic perspectives are then adopted. Here it is made clear that a heterogeneous use of the German language not only takes place in different states (D, A, CH, Bel, Rum....), but also characterizes different speech situations (language of proximity/language of distance) and different sociocultural collocations of the speakers. Here, too, "distances" between speakers arise, which language mediators should recognize and compensate for.

Language didactic perspective

As far as the language didactic perspective is concerned, task formats and scenarios of language mediation will be examined on the basis of selected textbooks and language proficiency tests. Of course, and following the

theoretical framework mentioned above, it is assumed that learners of German as a foreign language perform language mediation in order to achieve the communicative goal. In this context, concrete communication situations are supposed to represent the stimulus of authentic scenarios. In this phase it is therefore important to link the process of language acquisition of the students with their future activity as language mediators and thus, on the one hand, to point them to their professional future in good time and on the other hand to build a bridge between themselves and their future "customers".

With these perspectives in mind, students need to understand the added value of mediation, which is more than a translation or a simple summary, it needs to convey and explain, among other things, values from one culture to another, to bridge the gaps between cultures and people, as was shown at the beginning, to adapt the message according to the level of understanding of the recipient.

The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 25-29 May 2026, in Rome, Italy, where the students will have the opportunity to meet and get to know each other, working in groups on small projects. The groups are guided by the participating teachers.

The presentation of the results of the project by each group, the discussion of the results and the feedback received will encourage the students to continue the discussion. Related activities in free time increase group cohesion and encourage students to adopt mediation in their free time (e.g. when visiting a museum, in the canteen, on city transport etc.).

Detailed program:

25.5.2026

• 11:00-13:00 Welcoming students and teachers at Rome, Faculty of Humanities (Lettere e Filosofia); Introduction to the physical part of the BIP
• 13:00-15:00 Group lunch in the university canteen, break
• 15:00-18:00 Presentation of the first students' project
• 19:00 Welcome event at the Goethe Institute, Rome

26.5. 2026

• 9:00-11.30 Presentation of the 2nd Students' project
• 12:00-15:00 Sight seeing in small groups guided by Italian students of Tourism
• 15:00-17:00 Presentation of the 3rd students' project
• 17.30 Visiting the Colosseum and the Foro Romano

27.5.2026

• 9:00-11.30 Presentation of the 4th students' project
• 12:00-15:00 Visiting the Casa Internazionale delle Donne, Palazzo del Buon Pastore (The International Women’s House in Rome)
• 17:00-19:00 Presentation of the fifth students' project

28.5.2026

• 9:00-12:00 Visiting the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• 13:00-14:30 Group lunch in the university canteen, break
• 15:00-17:00 Presentation of the sixth students' project

29.5.2026

• Round table: Interculturality and Multilingualism
• 11:00-14:00 Positions, discussion, conclusion
• 14:00-16:00 Closing ceremony

The online part of the course will take place between on 2 March - 26 June 2026. The virtual activities take place in weekly meetings (on Fridays) of 4 hours each, through which teachers can get to know the students, determine their level and interests. Students also get to know each other better, often working in groups and being given small tasks to solve.

In virtual meetings, theoretical knowledge about mediation is passed on, but is then discussed at a practical level in group work tasks. The fact that the students come from several countries and the common language of communication is German makes the theme of multicultural mediation more tangible.

The topics will be addressed within the following calender:

• 6.3.2026: Welcoming and Introduction on the program and the concept of intercultural mediation;
• 13.3.2026: lecture and discussions on "German as a medium of communication (L1, L2, Lingua Franca)";
• 20.3.2026: lecture and discussions on "German in the context of speech acts and "Information structure in Communication"
• 27.3.2026: lecture and discussions on "German in a variation-linguistic perspective/ heterogeneous language use";
• 17.4.2026: lecture and discussions on "German as (un)understandable language (easy and simple language);
• 24.4.2026: lecture and discussions on "Sample analysis of texts and tasks for language mediation from German as a Foreign Language textbooks/ example analysis of language certification tasks";
• 30.4.2026: lecture and discussions on "Mediation for specific target groups: Communication situation 1 (everyday life: doctor, everyday life); Communication situation 2 (study, profession, research etc)";
• 8.5.2026: lecture and discussions on "Applications in case-studies in communication situations and assignment of projects for the attendance phase".
• 15.5.2026: lecture and discussions on "AI and mediation";
• 22.5.2026: overall discussion of the virtual phase and preparation of the face-to-face part of the BIP-program;
• 22.6.2026: reflection on common experience during the physical part.

The time slot is very likely 16:00-19:00 CET (to be confirmed).