Sentence Translation Challenges among Arabic-Speaking EFL Students

Lana Hussain Ahmed Shahata

doi:10.4236/ojml.2020.104019

Abstract

The study aims to investigate sentence translation challenges among Arabic-Speaking EFL Students. The study follows both descriptive and analytical methods. The study was applied to students at Omdurman Islamic University college of Education forth year students. The sample of students consists of 30 students who study English at Education College. The study used a test as a tool for data collection and data were analyzed, by SPSS program. The findings of this study emphasized those EFL students facing problems in translation. Students have very weak background knowledge about how to translate English to Arabic; then they do not have sufficient ability to translate Arabic sentences to English, and they are very weak in translating English proverbs into Arabic; students are not acquiring English culture, which affects negatively their abilities of translating English proverbs into Arabic. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that the translation should be paid attention when it is taught; the translation should be taught from the first year; students should be given many topics to translate during their academic year; students should be taught English proverbs as much as possible during their academic year; the teachers should use motivating methods to enhance the students’ level in translation.

Highlights

The researcher reviews the definition of translation by famous figures in field and the previous studies
The researcher recommended that the translation should be paid attention when it is taught; the translation should be taught from the first year; students should be given many topics to translate during their academic year; students should be taught English proverbs as much as possible during their academic year; the teachers should use motivating methods to enhance the students’ level in translation
The researcher uses a test asking students to translate English sentences in to Arabic and vice versa as well as to translate English proverbs into Arabic, and the researcher will analyze the problems of sentence translation in terms of grammar aspect and cohesion

Summary

Introduction

The researcher reviews the definition of translation by famous figures in field and the previous studies. The English students of university don’t know well translation; they lack of the ability of translation of English sentences from English to Arabic and vice versa and they commit errors when they face examinations questions. The significance of the study is well known that English is considered as a global language It plays an important role in our life. The area of the problems confronting Arab university students of English as a foreign language (EFL) when translating Arabic into English and vice versa is extensively studied. The researcher found it is an indispensable requisite to investigate problems encountered by students, mainly from Arabic into English In this regard, the present study may shed light on students’ ability in translation, in addition to analyzing the committed errors in English into Arabic and vise versa

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Conclusion