Collaborative Learning in a Translation Course

Collaborative learning, based on small group discussions conducted according to specific rules, provides an alternative to traditional classroom structure which has been shown to be useful in second language acquisition. This article describes its application in a translation course. A more in-depth understanding of the source text is arrived at collectively, and a greater degree of grammatical correctness, accuracy, and faithfulness can be achieved in the translation through discussion and negotiation as participants are required to justify their solutions. Social support is important as participants share their difficulties. They gain in self-confidence and self-esteem; they also become more tolerant of different opinions and appreciate the non-threatening atmosphere of working in small groups.