Stacy Ukishima – Translation Elective

June 24, 2003

 

Web sites that offer translation services can be invaluable to teachers, as they can supplement classroom activities and also improve communication with parents and/or students.  Live translators are quite costly and may take a long time to complete their work; online translators are quick and can be used in the classroom, office or even at home.

 

I went to all three sites that were included on the syllabus (listed below).  The Systran Information and Translation Technologies site offered the largest selection of languages, although both that site and Babel Fish at Altavista had difficulty translating my text into Japanese or Chinese because I did not download the proper fonts for these languages.

 

Prompt-Reverso Online - this site has a simple, straight forward interface that enables you to translate to and from several mainstream languages. - http://translation2.paralink.com

Systran Information and Translation Technologies - http://www.systransoft.com

Babel Fish at Altavista - Associated with the altavista search engine this translation engine enables conversion of up to 150 words from and to several different languages. - http://world.altavista.com

 

Seven Occasions to Use Translation Services Online

 

  1. ESOL teachers can use translation services to prepare worksheets and instructions in many languages to ensure students understand assignments.  They can also give students sentences in their own language and require them to translate them back into English, instead of simply asking them to conjugate verbs or change English sentences back into their native language (which many ESOL teachers cannot even check for accurateness without the help of a translator)!
  2. Teachers who teach in Texas or other areas where English may not be the native language for a majority of students can utilize translation services to send information home to parents.  They can also use these sites to communicate with students as they are learning their new language.
  3. Older students can look in foreign newspapers, copy information, and then use translation sites to benefit from actual primary sources.
  4. Older students can also check out newspaper accounts from other countries to compare how other countries react to the same event (for example, students can look at other countries’ reactions to 9-11).
  5. Students could also check their foreign language homework by using a translation site to see how well they did with their translation assignments.
  6. Shelters, social services, libraries and other professional offices (lawyers, doctors, etc.,) could benefit from these services and to make sure signs, documents and other information is available in multiple languages. 
  7. Instead of purchasing a book of phrases, travelers could use these services to create their own personal travel guide with phrases they think that they will use.

 

Okay, okay, I’ll stop now and demonstrate how one of these sites translation part of a letter that I wrote with instructions for my neighbor who was dog-sitting for us last summer.

 

ENGLISH

Sleeping: 

This is the topic where I will keep my fingers crossed and advise you to have a key to our house handy.  Jake is usually fine, although he will bark if left downstairs and sees something outside.  Sam is whiny, and may circle the bed, occasionally placing his big, fat head on the bed so you can “enjoy” a close-up view of his panting and drooling.  A stern “lie down Sam” may or may not work.  Feel free to reprimand as necessary.  A trip down to the Ukishima house for the night may be the remedy.

Sam also has dreams and runs in his sleep.  Pardon him.

 

SPANISH

El dormir: Éste es el asunto donde mantendré mis dedos cruzados y le aconsejaré tener una llave a nuestra casa práctica. Jake es generalmente fino, aunque él raspará si está ido abajo y ve algo afuera. ¿cSam whiny, y puede circundar la cama, está poniendo de vez en cuando su cabeza grande, gorda en la cama así que usted puede?enjoy? una opinión del primer el suyo que jadea y drooling. ¿Del?lie un SAM severo abajo? puede o no puede trabajar. Siéntase libre reprender como necesario. Un viaje abajo a la casa de Ukishima para la noche puede ser el remedio. El SAM también tiene sueños y los funcionamientos en el suyo duermen. Perdón él.

 

ITALIAN

Sonno: Ciò è il soggetto dove manterrò le mie barrette attraversate e li raccomanderò di avere una chiave alla nostra casa pratica. Jake è solitamente fine, anche se scorteccierà se andato downstairs e vede qualcosa all'esterno. SAM whiny e può circondare la base, occasionalmente sta disponendo la sua testa grande e grassa sulla base in modo da potete?enjoy? una vista del primo piano di suo che ansima e che drooling. Del?lie un SAM severo giù? può o non può funzionare. Ritenga libero rimproverare come necessario. Un viaggio giù alla casa di Ukishima per la notte può essere il rimedio. Il SAM inoltre ha sogni ed i funzionamenti in suo dormono. Perdono lui.