Can You Tell Me Why: Two Extreme Cases in Translation Learning Results

Ying-Ya Yvonne Wen

Abstract


While conducting an experiment in translation teaching methods between 2013 and 2014, the researcher found two participants especially distinctive. One who seemed rather likely to fail turned out to do quite well in the posttest beside his mid-term examination, while the other who ranked on top in the pretest ended up ranking at the bottom in the posttest. To find out the reasons why, the researcher invited them both for in-depth interviews, which were respectively conducted in May 23 and 31, 2014. The former explained the reason why: He made up for the skipped periods by taking extra effort to study on his own, utilizing the library of National Formosa University and the online files uploaded by the lecturer at the e-3 Campus Digital Learning System. The latter said, just trying to do something different for a change, he adopted another strategy in the posttest. Both regarded two factors conducive to their achievements in learning English-Chinese Translation, namely, pleasure reading and influences from supportive parents and Chinese teachers in their earlier education. Beside the approach of case study, part of the research findings will be presented in the form of narrative inquiry, for both cases are information-rich and inspiring.


Keywords


translation learning results, case studies, narrative inquiries

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References


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