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Humanising Language Teaching Double Translation by Malcolm Benson One of the great "Golden Oldie" language learning techniques was "double translation", which is generally associated with the name of Roger Ascham (1515-1568). It is one of the old grammar-translation exercises that pupils did in Tudor times, mostly between vernacular languages and Latin. Despite that, you might like to try it with your students. What to do:
Comment: The exercise focuses the students on both language and culture, and on the general difficulty of translating. Vocabulary and structure both emerge as prominent concerns. Variations include having students re-work each others' translations, and/or having the students assemble the original piece in its entirety. The exercise could also be done orally as a form of dictation, though probably with a rather easier passage. The old grammar-translation ways may now be passe, but they demanded great concentration and attention to detail! Try it, and you'll see. Contributed by Malcolm Benson, Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan. Contact:
benson@shudo-u.ac.jp
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