IMPORTANCE OF TRANSLATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING ENGLISH FOR ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING -CASE STUDY-

Abstract

Translation as a teaching and learning tool has not been fully approved in teaching English for general purposes (Duff, 1994); however, it is frequently used in teaching English for specific purposes (ESP), (Chirobocea, 2018). In order to analyze the importance of translation in teaching ESP, a case study was conducted aiming at analyzing the role and importance of translation exercises while using the ESP textbook “Oxford English for Electrical and Mechanical engineering” OUP and pointing out the advantages of using translation in teaching. During the winter term of 2021/22 academic year, 36 third-year students participated in a case study at the Faculty of Mechanical engineering, University of Montenegro. In their obligatory ESP course, they were taught English for Mechanical Engineering. At the end of the course, students were given a questionnaire to evaluate the quality and importance of all exercises applied (retelling, translation, grammatical exercises, reading comprehension, speaking, listening, and writing). Eventually, additional exercises that included translating sentences into English and from English were graded as one of the most efficient and, accordingly, the most important ones. Students were satisfied with the effects of applying translation exercises in the process of teaching and learning which has increased their motivation to use translation to a greater extent both in their future studies and in their future professional surroundings. Moreover, it is expected that translation exercises will raise students’ awareness of the importance of accuracy when using technical vocabulary in L1 and L2. Presently, domain experts translate scientific texts into and from English without consulting linguists and philologists of the Montenegrin language. This case study is the beginning of comprehensive research to be carried out among a greater number of students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (Departments of Electronics and Energetics) and Faculty of Medicine (Departments of General Medicine, Stomatology and Pharmacy), University of Montenegro.