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Using Google Translate in Remote Learning
Using Google Translate in Remote Learning
We know what you’re thinking.
Spanish will be SO EASY during remote learning! I can just Google Translate everything and my teacher will NEVER KNOW!
Well, you’re wrong. At least, you’re mostly wrong.
You, right now: How do they know? It’s just putting things into Spanish!
Your Spanish teachers:
Here are our guidelines and expectations for your use of online translators during this remote learning time:
Here are our guidelines and expectations for your use of online translators during this remote learning time:
You absolutely may use Google Translate (or other translating sites) to look up single words from English to Spanish to complete an idea.
i.e. No me gusta to take out the trash en casa. You may use Google Translate to look up “to take out the trash”.
You absolutely may use Google Translate (or other translating sites) to confirm that your writing makes sense, but do not use the translator's suggested corrections as they may not use the specific language you are trying to practice or being assessed on. Keep in mind, though, that Google still may get things wrong when you are actually correct.
i.e. You wrote the sentence Me llama es George. If you plug it into Google Translate, you’ll see how you could fix it.
You absolutely may use Google Translate (or other translating sites) to look up single words from Spanish to English to help you understand something you’re reading.
i.e. You’re reading Huevos Verdes Con Jamón (Green Eggs & Ham) and you have no idea what the word jamón means.
HOWEVER
You may not use Google Translate (or other translating sites) to do your work for you.
i.e typing entire sentences (or more) in either language and letting it translate for you.
If your teacher suspects that you have used a translator, machine or person, you may receive a zero or be required to do an alternate, proctored assignment.
If your teacher suspects that you have used a translator, machine or person, you may receive a zero or be required to do an alternate, proctored assignment.
Google Translate makes mistakes, uses forms of words you don’t know, and uses words that aren’t the vocabulary that you are learning. It also does not always auto correct your spelling mistakes, which may affect the translation.
You are on your honor of course, but keep in mind… we always know. Always.
You are on your honor of course, but keep in mind… we always know. Always.
Google Translate fail
Google Translate fail
To demonstrate how Google Translate can fail, the creator of these videos uses puts messages through Google translate several times, starting with English, translating to a couple different languages, then translating back to English. You can see more of her videos on her YouTube Channel. Google Translate has an especially hard time with idiomatic expressions, slang, misspellings, poor grammar, and errors. Watch at least two of these.
Everytime you use a translator (or another person) to do work for you, you get further behind. If you use a translator, you're underminding your ability to learn Spanish. Resist the temptation. Ask for help if you need it. :-)
Everytime you use a translator (or another person) to do work for you, you get further behind. If you use a translator, you're underminding your ability to learn Spanish. Resist the temptation. Ask for help if you need it. :-)
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