Didactics of Translation: Text in Context

General opinions about the translation course

All the students who completed the questionnaire agreed that the translation course was very important and most interesting. However, some students went even further and voiced some opinions which are worth quoting here. It might be quite revealing at this stage to compare the

opinions of SAR and SAI students with those students who were always absent.

Attending students’ opinions:
Student 1: This course is very useful since it provides us with a general view about how to deal with text types and discourse while translating.
Student 2: In my opinion, the translation course is one of the most interesting and useful courses I have ever attended at university.
Student 3: The course helps us to know different types of texts and how to translate them.
Student 4: It is very important for students because it enables them to distinguish between text types, genre, discourse, etc.
Student 5: The course makes us aware and capable of making the distinction between different discourses, text types, etc. It also gives us the opportunity to improve our L1 and L2.
Student 6: The translation course is one of the most important courses one has ever attended though many students think that they can pass the exam without attending it.
Student 7: It is very interesting to translate different types of texts.
Student 8: This course is the medium whereby students can improve their style in writing. It also helps them improve their comprehension of certain texts in the sense that they become aware of the types of texts during the process of reading.
Student 9: The course has improved our understanding of text types, genres and discourse. It is a very interesting and challenging subject.
Non-attending students’ opinions
Student 1: I think that it is one of the most important courses even if I didn’t attend it because of my work. It seems very interesting.
Student 2: It is very interesting as it helps us in our life in general. Student 3: A lot of courses and not enough time.
Student 4: A very interesting course, but we need PCs and books to help us.
Student 5: I think that this course is marked by its beauty. I said beauty because the teacher makes us love the language.
Student 6: It is a very interesting course; it helps us understand English better as a foreign language.
Student 7: You can benefit from this course a lot because it helps the learners master a second language.

It is interesting to note that whereas SAR and SAI gave a more detailed description of the content of the translation course they attended, i.e. text types, genre and discourse, in addition to showing the relevance of this content for the translating activity, those students who did not attend the course restricted themselves to talking about the translation course in broad terms, referring mainly to the role of this course in consolidating the student’s knowledge of the foreign language and in helping him/her in their future lives.

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