TASK 2. ESSAY

by Cristian Camilo Murcia 

POSTULATE C 

"Later Duff (1989) identifies three essential purposes of translation as an activity in language learning: accuracy, clarity and flexibility. He argues that translation “trains the learner to search (flexibility) for the most appropriate words (accuracy) to convey what is meant (clarity)"

Currently, language learning process involves several factors that are linked among themselves and go directed to the development of the students’ English skills, independently the place where it is developed. Those factors are usually considered within the English programs and lessons given by the educational institutions, and they are what determine the success of the process.  According to the above, one of those important factors used to help English language learning process are undoubtedly, translation.

By the way, translation brings with itself some advantages for students while learning a second language, since it allows them to feed their sources of vocabulary and to identify the context of some words that, although are the same ones, could have different meanings taking into account the situations in which they are used. Besides, translation leads students to new ideas and to learn and understand what they are listening or reading while translating, even though if there are some sentences or phrases that are similar in context to ours but may not have a specific translation. In this case, translation seems to have a limit, since students tends to depend on translators or dictionaries.

However, Later Duff (1989) identifies three essential purposes of translation as an activity in language learning: accuracy, clarity and flexibility. He argues that translation “trains the learner to search (flexibility) for the most appropriate words (accuracy) to convey what is meant (clarity).  

This idea helps to think and understand, as a conclusion that, translation as an activity or strategy to be implemented in language learning process represents a good opportunity for learners as long as it be articulated with the English skills and in context in which new vocabulary helps the learner to create sense and to understand the meaning of what is expressed. Finally, it is possible to conclude that, translation can be great tool for learning, but everything depends on the way in which it is used and the goals that teachers pursue with this kind of activities.  

TASK 3. MIND MAP