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Advice Please - Language teacher - I just did something very stupid!!

  • 09-05-2011 1:36pm
    #1
    peanuthead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭


    Hi all

    Looking for some advice on what to do, or hopefully looking for someone to tell me to calm down, its not that bad!!

    I just had a second year class and I was giving them homework when I announced to the class (as I've had this problem with first years and assumed the second years knew about it) "And do not use Google translator to do your sentences as you learn nothing from it."

    They had never heard of Google translator - and their little faces lit up when I mentioned it. Think I have just caused a problem that didn't exist!!

    What to do now, this class are struggling and they really need to be thinking for themselves right now, not getting a computer to do all the work for them, yet ironically, in trying to make sure they do more, I'm the one that has ensured they do less!!

    Stupid, stupid, stupid!


Comments

  • #2
    loveroflight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 119 ✭✭loveroflight


    Hi Peanuthead,

    Say no more to them about it. If they mention it, change the subject quickly, pretend you have'nt noticed. You'd be surprised!!! how much goes over their heads.

    Good Luck


  • #3
    Plazaman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭Plazaman


    So say you have 10 sentences. Put one or two sentences on a piece of paper (so you'll have 5 different papers) and then give them a pop test and if you have 20 students every 4 students will have the same paper. Write names on top and all that to see if info has sunk in.


  • #4
    vamos!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 525 ✭✭✭vamos!


    The MFL Sunderland site has crazy French translations from using online translators. Im sure you will find ones for different languages somewhere online. Print and laminate them and use them as an example. I started the year making a joke out of it first and moved on to totally ban the use of translators. I refuse to accept homework when it is blatent. The students no longer bother to use it. Maybe try the if google translate is so good, why do we learn languages line? Or threaten to give it an as essay title to those who get caught using it!


  • #5
    freire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 181 ✭✭freire


    I wouldn't beat myself up over it. In fairness it was a matter of a short time before they found out about it. If the 1st years were wise then word gets around pdq.

    My classes used it for a bit then realised they weren't actually learning anything and many times it was inaccurate.

    I'm sure your own will do similar.


  • #6
    peanuthead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭peanuthead


    Thanks for the replies.

    Actually, a lot of the times I let small errors go if they are not related to the particular point we are learning, so what I might do tomorrow is pick on everything that is wrong, so that to them it looks like they got more wrong using the translator than had they tried them themselves.

    Thanks for replies.


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