Abstract:

The increasing number of immigrants in Greece has altered communication needs in the public sector. Mediation strategies are of crucial importance in order to guarantee access to education, medical services and justice. Cultural mediators need to acquire mediation skills and strategies and not simply translation and interpreting techniques.

Recent studies have demonstrated the need of high-quality court interpreting and the necessary steps to be taken. We will examine the communication needs and the way modules were designed concerning a small-scale pilot programme for intercultural mediators. Since, it is a new educational course, there is focus on the specific needs, the constraints and prior knowledge.

The complexity of mediation consists in mediating texts, concepts, communication. The presentation of the communication needs and the pilot study can offer a valuable insight in the cultural mediation specific traits and serve as a guide for large scale initiatives. The overall aim of the pilot implementation was to offer initial training but also to focus on the specific issues concerning mediation.

Keywords:

Mediation, initial training, further training, cultural mediators, communication.