About the talk

Google Translate and other machine translation platforms can be a source of tension in language learning classrooms, with many instructors likening their use to cheating, laziness, and/or impediments to learning. This talk presents the findings of a research study that complicate these assumptions and provide implications for instructional practice.

We base this talk on a computer-tracking study that used screen recording and retrospective interviews to observe and understand how 74 world language learners (French, Spanish, Mandarin) actually used machine translation platforms while writing. While students across languages used machine translation tools extensively, their usage went far beyond “copy paste” to include complex analysis strategies. After presenting our findings, we suggest different approaches for language instructors and programs on how to address machine translation in the language classroom.