Learning languages
Online Translation Tools Fail High School Students.
A problem for the poor language teacher
“Siri, how do I win my battle with Google Translate?”
My fellow language teachers and I spend countless hours trying to convince students that online translation tools are not the key to success in language learning. Yet, day after day, students ignore our pleas and submit work that is not their own rather the product of an algorithm. Unfortunately, this addiction has heartbreaking consequences come assessment time. However, regardless of the size of their downfall, many students continue to use these tools.
There is no denying online translation tools have their purpose and positive aspects. They can benefit individuals competent in a language who seek a quick translation to single words or phrases. These benefits and others deserve to be explored in a different article.
These tools hinder language acquisition.
Google Translate is a quick (unreliable) fix to a much bigger problem.
So many students attach themselves to this application like it is their umbilical cord and feel they need it for utter survival in their language courses. Try as I might, I cannot convince my students that, like a drug, Google Translate is a quick fix for a problem easily solved in a matter of minutes with a good paper dictionary.
Online translation tools may teach you specific simple phrases if you make an effort to learn what you translate. However, they will not teach you the grammatical structures and how to use them appropriately. To claim you are fluent and competent in a language, you must manipulate the vocabulary and grammatical structures in impromptu authentic situations. Using online translation tools alone will not get you to this level.
The false friend of beginner language students.
A translation at the click of a button is as enticing as the apple was to Eve. Many succumb to the temptation. What students don’t realise is you have to know the language well enough to use it effectively. In other words, as wonderful as it is, Google makes errors because many entries can become lost in translation due to the algorithmic nature of the digital translation process.
Google Translate uses a frequency of word pairs between two languages as a database for its translations. To translate from English to German, Google accesses the numerous texts in its database to help form the translation it gives you. Research has shown you may have a better accuracy rate with more commonly spoken languages as there are more texts on the internet in these languages. In contrast, a translation in Swahili might be less accurate due to the fewer texts available for Google to source from.
Although Google’s accuracy is improving and can work well, the only thing you can be sure of is your gamble with context. For a translation to be accurate, the text's linguistic, contextual, and cultural components must be appropriate. Unless you have a comprehensive knowledge of the vocabulary and structures of a language as well as Sprachgefühl (feeling for a language), you use translation tools at your own peril.
Paper dictionaries are actually more helpful.
Students don’t realise that a good paper dictionary offers many resources to facilitate understanding of a language and performance in examinations.
A good dictionary will have a list of verbs with their past participles and other grammar lists or explanations. One can find the pronunciation, noun genders and plural forms, among other things, simply by looking up the infinitive of the verb or the singular noun.
Online translation tools do not provide you with such a wealth of resources. You get a translation of what you type in, and it may not even be accurate.
Using these tools can discourage honesty and integrity.
High school teachers are responsible for delivering the academic and hidden curricula to provide students with the best holistic education. The latter being the development of young people into effective functioning adults with brains, morals, values, and practical skills. As you can imagine, this task is like putting together a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle.
Plagiarism at university and in the workplace is taken even more seriously. We must tackle this issue at the school level to save our students from relying on dishonesty before they receive more serious consequences later on.
Karma is a heartbreaker.
One of my former students learned about the perils of Google Translate the painful way. He told me throughout the year; he had not spent enough time on his German work. As the exams drew closer, he memorised speaking responses that were well-elaborated, as I had suggested. Instead of using German within his zone of proximal development, he directly translated from English into German using Google Translate. His responses included German grammatical structures he had never been exposed to before and of which he had no preliminary understanding. He was therefore attempting to memorise language he didn’t actually know how to use.
As many of you might imagine, he failed miserably. He claims he turned over a new leaf, but if this transition had occurred earlier, though, he might have received a higher mark in his leaving exams.
Easy translations feed perfectionism.
“There is no room for perfectionism when learning a language.”
These are some words of wisdom I try to convey to one particular perfectionist student of mine. He consistently submits perfectly written compositions that are a stark contrast to his performance in written examinations. Despite my best efforts to convince him I want to see his errors, he uses Google Translate.
To the outsider, striving for perfection in adolescent school students is associated with positive characteristics such as the healthy pursuit of excellence. Unfortunately, many young people fear the negative reactions to imperfection from parents, teachers and peers. This can lead to doing whatever it takes to achieve their perception of perfection.
Studies have shown striving for perfection can be connected with depressive symptoms once the influence of negative reactions to imperfection occurs. This puts teachers in the predicament of supporting students’ mental health as well as their academic studies.
Life is not easy.
Outside the context of language learning, online translation tools do not pave the way to a realistic start to adulthood. These tools unintentionally spread the message that life is easy and technology can solve any problems we come across. No deep thought and consideration is required, just a click, type and another click.
Our young people will find that the tap of some buttons cannot help them with some challenges such as conflict resolution, effective communication and general problem-solving. Time needs to be taken to work out a solution. Learning languages in the traditional way hones skills required outside the classroom and later in life.
Goodbye intercultural relationships.
Enrolment data states the number of British universities offering language courses has declined in recent years. Although some reasons for this cannot be deemed as negative such as women choosing to pursue STEM-based courses, some naive individuals think learning a language is a waste of time as they can get around a country with the help of their trusty mobile phones.
Have you ever heard someone complain that their partner or friend is always on their phone? Well, this is exactly what could happen to people attempting to make connections with others in another culture. Frequently looking at screens instead of making eye contact and creating meaning will prevent many people from making true connections.
Take a few moments to consider the consequences of the loss of proper language learning and intercultural understanding. For young people, this could mean overseas exchanges are a thing of the past. International employment opportunities would be minimal, and for those of you who dream of being swept off your feet by a handsome stranger from far, far away, you can just put that dream to bed and read a romance novel on your device instead.
