Brian Robinson

LS 521- Spring ‘02

4/17/02

 

Translation: Can We Throw Out the Old Phrasebooks?

 

          The ability to translate text from one language to another is an incredibly valuable tool.  Not only does it have great potential for adults, it has wonderful potential for the classroom as well.  Below are five situations where a translation site would be valuable to an educator, as well as an example of how it actually works.

 

 

Teaching Opportunities Using an Online Translation Tool

 

  1. A teacher would be able to show students global perspectives by translating from native texts such as newspapers, magazine, and others.

 

  1. A teacher would be able to establish pen-pals with foreign students without the necessary language skills needed on both ends.  This would obviously NOT be appropriate for language classes, but imagine the potential of having an American 3rd grade class be able to write to a Russian class of children!

 

  1. On a limited basis, these translation tools could be used as an aid in a language class, although the specifics would have to be teacher-decided and there would be a lot of potential for dishonesty.

 

  1. A teacher would be able to communicate directions and activities to a student with weak or non-existent English skills.  Although the student would still be taught in English, at least some basic instructions and/or details would be clear. 

 

  1. Perhaps most importantly, the teacher would be able to send information home to parents and caretakers in a usable form (report cards, class updates, disciplinary issues, permissions, etc.) that could be read, not just discarded.

 

 

An example using PROMPT-Reverso Online (http://translation2.paralink.com/)

 

 

English text:

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze. 

The boy and his father walked towards the creek, carrying their fishing gear. 

It was a weekly tradition, that the two would go fishing together,

rain or shine, every Sunday of the summer.

 

German text:

Es war ein schöner Sonntagsnachmittag, die Sonne schien und es gab eine sanfte Brise.

Der Junge und sein Vater gingen zum Flüßchen spazieren, ihr Fischenzahnrad tragend.

Es war eine wöchentliche Tradition, dass die zwei gehen würden, zusammen,

Regen oder Schein jeden Sonntag des Sommers angelnd.

Russian text:

Это было красиво в воскресенье в полдень(вечерний),

солнце сияло и был нежный бриз. Мальчик и его отец шли к ручью, неся их рыбацкий механизм.

Это была еженедельная традиция, которую эти два будут идти ловить рыбу вместе,

дождь или сияние, каждое воскресенье лета.

 

(I am skilled enough in German to see that the translation into that language is very good. 

However, as my Russian is non-existent, I am not able to personally verify the accuracy of the Russian passage.)

 

 

 

 

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