Good ole google translate… as well as other online translators out there.
As world language teachers these can be quite challenging in the classroom, especially now that most schools are 1:1 with electronic devices. I always enjoy receiving written assignments from students who are in French 1 using the subjunctive 😜My oh my how you have advanced so quickly!
To show my students how “bad” or “non useful” google translate is, I like to show the following song videos about google translate, it is a funny way to show them how google translate can misinterpret what you are trying to say. Although Google Translate has come a long way from the early days, it still doesn’t know the difference between a verb, a noun, and other parts of speech. Because of this, the meaning comes out twisted or funny, but often, not at all what the students mean to say. I guess which could be a little irritating and interesting at the same time!
Songs:
The students get such a kick out of the videos and it shows the importance of how google translate does not work well when it comes to translating many languages.
When students realize they can’t get away with it, they will be less likely to use it.
Here are some tips and tricks when it comes to students using technology in the classroom. Some of them I use and some I have seen used by other educators.
Teacher Technology Tips & Tricks:
- Wordreference.com for an online dictionary or a paper dictionary. (I always kept these in my classroom for students to use when appropriate.)
- Students’ devices face the teacher when working on written assignments, assessments, etc. – this hopefully makes it harder for them to use online translators.
- Tell students you will randomly ask them to tell you, in person, what a sentence they have written means. Students must use what they know and be able to show or explain where they got the information that they looked up.
- Cell phones are put in the wall chart upon arrival. Cell Phones will only be allowed for special circumstances or upon teacher requests. (Cell Phone Log & Policy) With all if not most students having a school device, there should be no need for them to have their phones too.
And sometimes I just would do writing assignments the good old fashioned way! Pen, paper and a dictionary. Yes it may take longer but the students benefit way more. Here are some of my go to writing tasks for students : Speaking & Writing Prompts World Languages
How do you handle the use of online translators in your classes?
As always, I hope that you have found this information useful and helpful to you!
Merci,
Amanda