4 Enhancing your learning with OMT
So far, you have been given an introduction to OMT, its development, and how it could benefit your language learning. However, in order to maximise its potential and make the most of it, you need to do more than just acquire knowledge. You need to learn how to apply it to your language learning.
Becoming competent in using OMT requires a complex mixture of knowledge (including memory), skills (including pronunciation), and attitudes (including curiosity).
For language learning in particular, learners need to develop a reflective attitude, follow their progress constantly, think back on past examples and extend their skills and understanding step by step. If you are a learner who is learning a language independently with the help of OMT, a critical awareness is also important. Without a teacher present to correct mistakes, you will have to make decisions on-the-spot about meaning and ambiguity.
Now have a go at Activity 3.
Activity 3
Part A
Link the examples to the competencies listed. There are not necessarily any right or wrong answers, but suggested answers have been provided.
Competencies
knowledge • skill • reflection • critical awareness • attitude
Examples
an extensive vocabulary • good guessing • evaluating achievements • tolerance for ambiguity • checking your sources
| Competency | Example |
|---|---|
| knowledge | |
| skill | |
| reflection | |
| critical awareness | |
| attitude |
Comment
Here is what we matched up:
| Competency | Example |
|---|---|
| knowledge | an extensive vocabulary |
| skill | good guessing |
| reflection | evaluating achievements |
| critical awareness | checking your sources |
| attitude | tolerance for ambiguity |
Your ideas may be quite different. Check with the explanations below and reflect on your responses if they differ at all.
Vocabulary relies on knowledge and memory. A learner needs to learn new words first (knowledge) before they can add them to their vocabulary.
Effective guessing is a skill that can be practised. Learners may like to guess (attitude) or have a particular gift for guessing, but even if that is not the case, with practice it is possible to improve your guessing of unknown words and phrases (skill).
Evaluating achievements requires learners to look back. They should not just memorise what they have learned, but also check whether it is important to their learning, measure their achievements against their own ambitions and expectations, and note their positive and less positive outcomes (reflection).
Critical awareness will become very important during this course: you will learn how to check the results from OMT tools, and how to ensure that you are acting responsibly and fairly, and in accordance with good academic practice.
A tolerance for ambiguity is an attitude that some people naturally have. Others strive to achieve it with conscious decisions and training. It allows learners to make mistakes in language practice and to go over target language texts quickly without understanding every word.
Reflect: which of these competencies do you feel most confident with?
Part B
You will now look at the same competencies while thinking about supporting language learning with the help of OMT. Although you may not yet have enough information to match all the terms, try using your ‘guessing skills’ or come back later to complete the activity.
Now link the competencies with the examples listed below.
Examples
- a list of reliable OMT tools
- quick judgement on reliability of translation
- comparing different translations to add to your reliability evaluation of OMT tools
- preferring creative examples to generate challenges for OMT tools
- using online discussions and ratings to add to your reliability evaluation of OMT tools
- evaluating the workings of OMT
- finding alternative means for generating reliable translations
- cultural awareness
| Competency | Example |
|---|---|
| knowledge | |
| skill | |
| reflection | |
| critical awareness | |
| attitude |
Comment
Here is what we matched up:
| Competency | Example |
|---|---|
| knowledge | a list of reliable OMT tools; cultural awareness |
| skill | quick judgement on reliability of translation; finding alternative means for generating reliable translations |
| reflection | comparing different translations to consider your reliability evaluation of OMT tools |
| critical awareness | using online discussions and ratings to add to your reliability evaluation of OMT tools; evaluating the workings of OMT |
| attitude | preferring creative examples to generate challenges for OMT tools |
Your ideas may be quite different. Check with the explanations below and reflect on your responses if they differ at all.
Knowledge:
A list of OMT tools/software is useful and can be found in some online spaces. However, on its own, this type of knowledge will be quickly outdated and need support from other competencies.
Background knowledge about the culture can help you judge whether a translation is appropriate or not. At a basic level, being aware that cultural differences might impact on how a word or phrase is translated is essential.
Skills:
A quick judgement is a skill you can practise. You may be naturally quick to judge in a different area of your learning or working life; in that case, you can transfer the skill to OMT use. You might be able to compare the results of a translation you have done with OMT to your previous knowledge of the language, with a textbook answer, with the help of a paper dictionary or grammar book – or with the results another OMT provides. But even if you are not used to comparing translations at all or checking them for accuracy, with practice you will improve the speed of your judgement on the reliability of an OMT tool.
Another skill is:
Translators can use prompts to guide the OMT towards the desired outcome. This involves specifying the source and target languages, the desired tone and register (formal, informal, etc.), and any specific terminology.
Reflection:
There are many reflective tasks that can help you improve your judgement of OMT tools. Comparing different translations can foster analytical skills. If you use the results of these comparisons to evaluate the reliability of OMT tools, the effect will be more sustainable and lasting.
Reflective translators can analyse the OMT output and adjust their prompts to improve their results over time. This iterative process helps to get the most out of the translation tools.
Critical awareness:
Critical awareness is very important when judging OMT. Understanding how OMT tools work and using this knowledge to critically evaluate the results of a translation, is a good place to start. Using external sources, such as online discussion forums, to verify your own critical judgement, is another way to check the effectiveness of OMT tools.
Attitudes:
A preference for creative examples and creative language use can help you to challenge the OMT tools you are testing. When the examples are too easy, many tools will fit your ‘reliability rating’; however, the more challenging the examples become, the more useful your rating scale will be to distinguish between effective and not so effective OMT tools.
Reflect: which of these competencies do you feel most confident with?