Translation in the
Teaching of a Foreign Language as a Means and as an End
Suparmin
In the
history of foreign language teaching, translation has alternately been praised
and condemned. Unfortunately, the praise and condemnation were based on a
rather simplistic, biased, and extreme view of the role of translation. In this
view no clear, explicit distinction was made between translation as a means and
as and end although in practice people already showed a tendency to be more
concerned with one aspect than the other. Moreover, in their treatment of
translation people tended to take an “either … or … ”
position. Either take it or leave it. This paper proposes a more explicit,
balanced, and moderate attitude towards translation and its two aspects. It is
suggested that a clear distinction be made between translation as a means and
translation as an end and that each be treated accordingly in a better
programmed way. The treatment should consider the level of instruction. At the
beginning level, translation should be treated more as a means than as an end.
Gradually, as the level of instruction progresses the role of translation as a
means is reduced, while its role as an end is increased so that at the more
advanced levels translation will be treated more as an end than as a means.
Accordingly, translation should not be totally abandoned or too liberally used.
However, the use and disuse should be based on a careful and well-prepared
program. In line with the idea that translation be treated as an end at the more
advanced level, and considering its importance for a developing nation, it is
also proposed here that translation be adopted as a “fifth skill” to be
pursued.
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Suparmin. (2002).
Translation in the teaching of a foreign language as a means and as an end.
TEFLIN Journal, 13(1), 71-81.
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