Bob Whalen slm521mc – Translation Elective

Five Translation Situations

• In social studies, students could write to pen pals via email in foreign countries and not be dependent/limited to English. The ease of communication via translation would encourage and enhance dialogue. It would be an exciting experience for students.
• In social studies, translating a web page would be a tremendous learning experience when researching information and running across a foreign site. It opens up the Internet to the world, not just to English speaking countries. With translation engines, it really does become the World Wide Web.
• In social studies students could research foreign sites, read and translate how foreign websites report on similar situations. Students could focus on point of view. Students could get the French perspective on the French & Indian War in America, not just the American perspective. Students could really learn and put into practice point of view.
• In social studies students can find out what countries say about themselves in their own language when studying about a foreign country. Language does not become a barrier when trying to understand information about other places when using a translation engine.
• Students can take a situation and do research as to how the world sees the situation in various countries as September 11th. It really opens up world perspectives. This is especially important in the United States since typically most countries of the world know much more about us then we know about them.
• In Montgomery County Schools, we have the highest ESOL population in the state. What a powerful tool for ESOL students to be able to communicate easier in the classroom. They can copy and paste portions of information they don’t understand and translate them to their native language. Teachers can write questions in English and translate in the native ESOL language. It really opens up communication for ESOL students.

Translation Exercise

Can you guess this famous quote in German?

Wir halten diese Wahrheiten, selbstverständlich zu sein, dass alle Männer gleich geschaffen werden, dass sie von ihrem Schöpfer mit gewissen unveräußerlichen Rechten dotiert werden, die unter diesen Leben, Freiheit, und die Verfolgung des Glücks sind.

Can you guess this famous quote in Russian?

Мы считаем эти истины быть самоочевидными, что все мужчины созданы равные, что они обеспечены их Создателем с определенными неотъемлемыми Правами, которые среди них являются Жизнью, Свободой, и преследованием Счастья.

Can you guess this famous quote in English?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.