Mediated Learning Activities Between Caregivers and Children Among New Immigrants and Veteran Families in Israel: An Experiment on Two "Home-Based" Tasks

The author presents a study of the systematic observation of Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) among Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. The study was based on "semi-naturalistic" observation of two tasks-one experimental task with the new immigrants, another with veteran immigrants. The observation was conducted mainly on the basis of MLE parameters. The study illustrates the components of MLE that are most valuable and ones that are more emphasized than others as part of the overall cultural practice and its value system. Generally, Ethiopian parents infrequently use the mediation of transcendence infrequently and rarely provide mediation of competence and reward, especially in the explicit verbal form of a direct reward. More emphasis is placed on the accomplishment of actual acts with little room for making errors. The mediation of regulation of behavior is done with a more commanding and direct manner-sometimes scolding-with an authoritarian voice and body gestures. The overall picture of MLE among this immigrant population indicates that there is still a huge disparity between the mediational teaching style expressed as ideal in schools and the mediational styles that Ethiopian children are familiar with at home. This suggests a discontinuity between home and school that might inhibit a rapid adaptation to the school's learning style for the children.