Tools and Symbols as Mediation: A Central Concept to Understand Ways of Improving English Acquisition and Proficiency

This conceptual paper aims to illuminate a theoretical framework in which promoting ways of how second language learners may improve their English acquisition and proficiency. The theoretical framework primarily draws on a range of sociocultural perspectives, including the sociocultural positions initially defined by Lev Vygostky (1978), and theories of second language acquisition discussed by Lantolf and Thorne (2000). Tools and symbols as mediation is a central concept of sociocultural approach to second language acquisition. Three types of mediation are discussed which are mediation is a form of regulation, mediation by symbolic artifacts, and mediation through gestures.