General Tips for Mediation B1 & B2

This is the EOI Mediation Strategy Guide translated and adapted for B1 and B2 levels in English.

Mediation is not about translating every word. It is about helping someone understand the most important parts of a text or an image.

🤝 EOI Mediation Strategy Guide (B1 & B2)

🧠 The Core Philosophy: "The Helpful Friend"

Imagine you are a bridge. On one side is a text that is too long or in a different language, and on the other side is a person who needs the information quickly. Your job is to simplify.

B1 Student: Focuses on communicating the main points clearly.
B2 Student: Focuses on organizing the information and using a variety of vocabulary.

1. The "Triple Check"

Before you start writing, look for these three things in the instructions:

WHO is the receiver? (A friend? A stranger? A teacher?)
- Determines: Formal vs. Informal language.
WHY do they need it? (To choose a hotel? To understand a rule? To know about an event?)
- Determines: What information you select.
WHAT are the points? (The bullet points in the task).
- Determines: The content. Do not include extra information that doesn't answer the bullet points.

2. Strategy: Select and Rewrite

The biggest mistake is translating sentence by sentence. Instead, follow these steps:

Selection: Underline only the sentences in the text that answer the bullet points. Ignore everything else.
Synthesis: If two paragraphs talk about the same thing (e.g., "dates" and "times"), put them together in one sentence.
Paraphrasing: Use your own words. Do not copy the text.
- Source Text: "El establecimiento permanecerá cerrado por reformas."
- Mediated (B1/B2): "The shop is closed because they are fixing it."

3. Level Differences: B1 vs. B2

Feature	Level B1 (Intermediate)	Level B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Goal	Clarity and simplicity.	Accuracy and organization.
Grammar	Basic connectors (and, but, because).	Advanced connectors (However, Despite, Whereas).
Vocabulary	Common words and synonyms.	Specific vocabulary and phrasal verbs.
Style	Direct and friendly.	Flexible and professional.

4. How to Handle Different Formats

A. Graphs and Infographics

Don't just list every number you see.
Do describe the "big picture."
- B1: "Most people prefer traveling by train."
- B2: "There has been a significant increase in train travel compared to last year."

B. Long Articles or Advertisements

Simplify: If the text uses very difficult words, change them for easier ones.
Filter the "Fluff": If an ad says a hotel is "spectacular, magical, and marvelous," just say it is "very good" or "highly recommended."

5. Essential Phrases for Mediation

Starting the task:

B1: "I'm writing because I saw this information about..."
B2: "I’ve found some interesting information regarding... that might be useful for you."

Referring to the source:

B1: "The text says that..." / "According to the map..."
B2: "The article suggests that..." / "As shown in the brochure..."

Summarizing:

B1: "Mainly, you need to know that..."
B2: "The most important thing to consider is..."

Ending the task:

B1/B2: "I hope this information is helpful."

⚠️ The "Fatal Errors" (What NOT to do)

Giving your opinion: Do not say "I think this is a bad idea" unless the instructions ask for it.
Using outside info: Don't add facts you know from your own life. Only use what is in the text.
Writing too much: Mediation should be short and direct. If you write 300 words, you aren't "mediating"; you are just copying. Stick to the word count (usually 120-140 for B1 and 140-160 for B2).