Basically, MEDIATION has to do with solving and dealing with problems we come up with in communication in our daily life. Generally speaking, when we are asked to mediate, we have to:
- Summarise
- Simplify
- Adapt
- Paraphrase
- Translate
- Clarify
- Structuring the text/speech so that the information is conveyed in an organised way.
- Making good use of appropriate non-verbal communication skills (in spoken mediation tasks) such as gestures and eye contact.
- In 5 minutes, you will have to select the information relevant to the task, structure and adapt it to give it to the receiver in up to 2 minutes.
In 20 minutes they will have to select, structure and adapt the information relevant to the task and write it down in between 80-100 words.
- Selecting the information to be conveyed because not all the information might be relevant.
- Deciding whether extra-cultural information is necessary for better understanding.
- They might have to explain some idioms or cultural references from the text.
SPOKEN MEDIATION
In 5 minutes they will have to select the information relevant to the task, structure and adapt it to give it to the receiver in up to 2 minutes.
a) Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
b) Ireland is part of Scotland.
c) Ireland is an independent country.
2. Which colour is associated with Ireland?
a) green
b) red
c) blue
3. What is the approximate population of Ireland?
a) 5.3 million
b) 21.5 million
c) 43 million
4. Which two sports are both very popular in Ireland?
a) football and American football
b) football and Gaelic football
c) golf and baseball
5. What is ‘Guinness’?
a) a kind of beer
b) the capital of Ireland
c) a kind of Irish music
6. Which of these has not increased in Ireland since the 2000s?
a) the number of immigrants
b) foreign investment
c) the number of people leaving the country to live abroad
7. Which of these statements is true?
a) Irish people have a reputation for being talkative.
b) Ireland’s national day is called Saint Rafael’s Day.
c) It doesn’t rain very often in Ireland.
8. What is ‘Gaelic’?
a) a language
b) a kind of food
c) the capital of Ireland
9. The Titanic was built in which Irish city?
a Galway
b. Belfast
c. Waterford
d. Dublin
10. What is the national symbol of Ireland?
a. Crown Jewels of Ireland
b.The Celtic Cross
c. The Celtic Harp
d. The Irish Wolfhound
The Shadows of the Past
The conflict known as "The Troubles" was an ethno-political struggle in Northern Ireland that lasted for about thirty years, from the late 1960s until the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Although it happened in a small corner of the United Kingdom, its impact was felt globally. The heart of the conflict lay in the deep-seated divisions between two communities: the Unionists, who were mostly Protestant and wanted to remain part of the UK, and the Nationalists, who were predominantly Catholic and sought a united Ireland.
Throughout these three decades, violence became a daily reality for many. Paramilitary groups on both sides, such as the IRA and the UVF, engaged in bombings and shootings, while the British Army was deployed to maintain order. One of the most tragic events occurred in 1972, known as "Bloody Sunday," when British soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians during a protest march in Derry. This event escalated the violence significantly, leading to years of social unrest and the construction of "peace walls"—high barriers designed to separate clashing neighborhoods.
Peace finally arrived in 1998 with a historic compromise. While tensions still simmer occasionally and the physical walls remain in parts of Belfast, Northern Ireland has transformed into a major cultural hub, attracting visitors with its history, its landscapes, and its resilient spirit.
Reading Comprehension
1. Answer the following questions using your own words as far as possible.
a) What were the primary goals of the two opposing groups mentioned in the text?
b) How did the events of 1972 change the course of the conflict?
2. Are the following statements True (T) or False (F)? Copy the evidence from the text.
a) The conflict was confined strictly to the borders of the UK and had no international influence.
b) The "peace walls" were built to celebrate the end of the conflict in 1998.
3. Find words or phrases in the text that mean:
a) Conflict or fight (Paragraph 1)
b) Mainly or mostly (Paragraph 1)
c) Placed or sent for a specific purpose (Paragraph 2)
d) Strong and able to recover (Paragraph 3)
4. Grammar Exercises:
a) Not until 1972.....................................
b) Were it not for paramilitary groups on both sides......................................
c) If the government hadn't signed the treaty, the violence.....................................
