Didactics of Translation: Text in Context

Pedagogical principles of the teaching method

The teaching method used by the researcher throughout the 3^rd and 4^th year levels aimed at presenting this content in a manner which took into account two important didactic principles, namely: a) gradual sequencing and b) being clear about the goals of the translation teaching course. Thus, the sequencing of the content moved from the general to the particular and from the simple to the difficult, i.e. moving from the linguistic aspects of translation to the cultural and subsequently to the interpretive core. In this connection, Chau states:
The arrangement of the teaching contents according to the “linguistic – cultural – textual” sequence is at the same time a matter of necessity (it is prudent to teach one thing at a time) and a matter of principle, based on the assumption that there is a case for the argument that in TT, bilingual competence should come before cultural competence, and both before interpretive competence. (Chau 1984: 160)
The goals of the translation course, which could also be regarded as consecutive stages in its execution, are classified into three: a preparation stage, a developmental stage and an independent application stage. The preparation stage consists of pre-translation activities and introductions of the translation lessons. The developmental stage attempts to help the student learn how to deal with a translation task more rationally and more consciously by invoking the most appropriate translation techniques and strategies; in other words, it seeks to assist the student in building up a certain translational competence. In the last stage, the techniques and strategies learnt in the second stage are practised through various translation tasks, such as comparing and criticizing translations and practising translating texts.
Every translation lesson has to follow these three stages. The translation course curriculum presented in section 5. 5 below represents these three stages in relation to particular translation teaching points (lessons).

3.