Mediation in ELT curriculum: A comparative analysis of the 4th grade ELT textbook and the CEFR in Turkey

The main aim of the present study is to reveal the relationship between a 4th grade EFL textbook used in Turkey and mediation notion that is given a place in Companion Volume to the CEFR (CEFR/CV) in 2018. Deductive thematic content analysis method of qualitative research including usage of techniques such as re-reading and taking notes was conducted to analyse the data coming from data collection process. Textbook activities were unpacked and coded under themes that were determined beforehand. Then, illustrative descriptors for mediation from the CEFR/CV were extracted and coded as well. Mediator activities found in the textbook and illustrative descriptors of mediation were comparatively analysed to reveal the extent of their match. Themes were created out of the illustrative descriptors for mediation from the CEFR/CV, and textbook activities were unpacked and categorised in the light of these themes with their IDs that were determined before. Finally, a second opinion on the themes, categorizations and coding processes is received from an expert in the field. Descriptive analysis was utilized to display the relationship between the textbook and mediation characteristics in the CEFR/CV. The results show that most of the textbook activities do not reflect the characteristics of mediation mentioned in the CEFR/CV. There were 14 mediator activities out of 168 activities that indicate mediation, which constitutes 8,3% of the textbook. There were also other mediators found in the textbook such as visual and audial aids.