The Attitudes of ESP Learners ‘towards Translation: an Aid for Specialized Communication

Abstract

The present study seeks to investigate the attitudes ESP learners towards translation as an aid for them to engage in specialized communication in the department of commerce at Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia University. It aims at investigating the role of translation in promoting Business English learners’ involvement in the learning process with an emphasis on its role in understanding economic terminology. It is hypothesized that using translation as a pedagogical tool can enhance learners specialized communication. In other words, the variable of translation would enhance learners to acquire a specialized knowledge of the field they are studying and may help them to better communicate in the target language. The sample is 65 Master I students and 04 teachers (part –time teachers). The research methodology relies on two research tools to investigate the validity of the research hypothesis and variable. A questionnaire was administered to Master one students of marketing and an interview was carried out with ESP teachers. The results revealed that translation helps ESP learners to have a clear understanding of the target language and enables them to relate their knowledge of the subject matter in their mother tongue. Thus, it contributes to the learners progress made in both their language proficiency and their subject content.