Translation in language teaching and learning

So what is wrong with it? Given all these apparent advantages, it seems most peculiar that the mainstream literature on language pedagogy and second language acquisition, has routinely dismissed translation as a desirable component of language teaching and learning for over a hundred years – without research, reasoning or evidence. Is there perhaps some other reasons that translation has been villainised in this way?

• So what is wrong with it? Given all these apparent advantages, it seems most peculiar that the mainstream literature on language pedagogy and second language acquisition, has routinely dismissed translation as a desirable component of language teaching and learning for over a hundred years – without research, reasoning or evidence. Is there perhaps some other reasons that translation has been villainised in this way?
• I shall be asking what happened to translation, and why. I shall be making a case for reinstating translation as a major component of language teaching and learning. Whether you agree or disagree, I hope you will join us, tell us of your own experiences, and put forward your own views.
• Many of the reasons for this are good ones. Gone are the days when our goal in language learning was memorization. Communication is now our main objective when teaching a foreign language, and translation doesn’t seem to promote that.

Why Translation Can Be Great for Your Students

• Why Translation Can Be Great for Your Students
• Here are a few reasons why it’s worthwhile to spend some time teaching your students translation.
• It’s a useful life skill
• In many cases, we’ve dropped translation for communication, believing that the latter is the more useful skill.
• And it’s true that teaching our students to converse is our ultimate goal.
• But pause for a moment and think about how often translation is used in our day-to-day lives—especially among people who travel abroad.
• Have you ever had to translate a menu? Or a train schedule? Or be a mediator between two parties who each speak different languages? Depending on how frequently your students travel or the type of job they work, these actions could be part of their daily routine.