Group Activity

Translation as a form of solidarity against discrimination

This activity can be done with students of different levels of proficiency but works best with advanced beginners to intermediate language learners.

1. The instructor provides students with a Google Doc that features the infographic entitled “What to do if you are witnessing Islamophobic harassment” by Maeril, which contains four specific strategies against this kind of discrimination. The document has four blank spaces corresponding to each one of the paragraphs.
2. The class is divided into four small groups. Each group is assigned one of the four paragraphs. Working online, every student co-translates the short paragraph assigned to them with their group. After the co-translation is finished, each group adds the names of their members. See below for an example of the final product.
3. Each group selects one of their members to read the co-translation into Spanish aloud. Then the rest of the members of the group explain the challenges of producing this short translation into a second language to their classmates.
4. The instructor gives the students three minutes to further discuss the social or political function and impact of translation as a way of protecting minoritized subjects from discrimination in the public space.
5. The class ends with a discussion of translation as a tool for solidarity and social justice.