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Machine translation in foreign language learning: language learners’ and tutors’ perceptions of its advantages and disadvantages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Ana Niño
Ana Niño
Affiliation:
University Language Centre, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK (email: Ana.M.Nino@manchester.ac.uk)
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Abstract

This paper presents a snapshot of what has been investigated in terms of the relationship between machine translation (MT) and foreign language (FL) teaching and learning. For this purpose four different roles of MT in the language class have been identified: MT as a bad model, MT as a good model, MT as a vocational training tool (especially in the form of translation memories, pre-editing and post-editing), and MT as a “CALL tool”. Subsequently, some of the implications of the use of MT and of free online MT for FL learning are outlined and discussed along with practical examples for language teaching purposes. Finally, qualitative data, drawn from our empirical investigation are presented as synthesized findings pertaining to the perceptions of language learners and tutors in relation to the use of MT and, in particular, free online MT as a language tool.

Keywords

MT (Machine Translation), free online MT, FL written production, pre-editing, post-editing

Information

Type
Regular papers
Information
ReCALL , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , May 2009 , pp. 241 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 2009

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