Translation as a Method in Teaching ESP: An Example from the Secretarial English Course
Journal: Journal of Higher Education Research DOI: 10.32629/jher.v6i4.4315
Abstract
Given that the core objective of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is to enable students to effectively engage in specialized communication within their professional fields, it is crucial for ESP learners to become active participants in their professional discourse communities and to accurately use specialized terminology in various contexts. However, for students with average English proficiency, ESP teaching needs to be continuously adjusted, with the principle of adjustment being based on the overall improvement of students’ English application ability. To truly enable students to participate in the learning process, integrating translation methods with ESP teaching has become a feasible teaching approach. To verify the feasibility of this method, this paper takes the Secretarial English course — offered by the College English Department of Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages — as a case study. By discussing task-oriented training activities (vocabulary, sentence patterns, dialogues, and translation) centered on practicing translation methods for Chinese Language and Culture majors, it illustrates how the use of translation methods enhances students’ communicative competence in real-life scenarios, enables them to identify cultural effects, and fosters a cooperative learning environment. Such cooperation also represents an adaptable teaching mode that meets the demands of the contemporary ESP post-methods era. The effectiveness of the approach is evidenced by students’ mastery of the relevant final-exam topics and by their relatively improved linguistic performance.
Keywords
ESP, Secretarial English, Translation methods, Cooperative learning, Post-method area
Full Text
PDF - Viewed/Downloaded: 7 TimesReferences
[1] Fehaima, A., 2022. “Translation-based Task in an ESP Classroom: Tlemcen University as a Case Study”. Contemporary Educational Researches Journal, Vol. 12(04), pp. 246-255. (https://doi.org/10.18844/cerj.v12i4.8485)
[2] Guo, Yanling, 2014. “The Characteristics of ESP Teaching Methods in the “Post-methods Era” . Theory and Practice of Education, Vol. 34 (24), pp. 41-43.
[3] Kic-Drgas, J. 2014. “Translation in the ESP Teaching”. The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Vol. 2 (02), pp. 253-261.
[4] Mažeikienė, Viktorija, 2019. “Translation as a Method in Teaching ESP: An Introductive Thematic Analysis of Literature”. The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Vol. 6 (03), pp. 513- 523. (https://doi.org/10.22190/jtesap1803513m)
[5] Xiong, Yousheng, 2011. “The Application of Task-based Teaching Method in Secretarial English Instruction ”. Journal of Hubei Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), pp.189-190.
[6] Lin, lv, 2014. “Exploration of Practical Training Teaching Reform in ‘Secretarial English’ Courses in Vocational Colleges ”. Journal of Lanzhou Vocational Technical College, Vol. 30(07), pp. 127-129.
[7] Calis, E. & Dikilitas, K. 2012. “The Use of Translation in EFL Classes as L2 Learning Practice”. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 46, pp. 5079-5084. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.389).
[8] PACTE Group. 2011. “Building a Translation Competence Model.” In Methods and Strategies of Process Research: Integrative Approaches in Translation Studies, edited by C. Alvstad et al., pp. 317–343. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. (https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.45.06pac).
[9] Gong, Wenli, 2012. “On the Causes of Lagging Translation Teaching in College General English ”. Journal of Changchun University of Science and Technology, Vol.7 (10), pp.190-191.
[10] Li Lu, 2019. “On the Principles and Methods of Classroom Introduction in English Teaching ”. Journal of Liaoning Teachers College (Social Sciences Edition), Vol.121 (01), pp. 47-48.
[11] Cui Fenrong, 2014. “Evaluation of Modular Teaching in Vocational English Instruction: A Case Study of Shaanxi Vocational College”. Shaanxi Jiaoyu · Gaojiao, 2014(Z1), pp. 139-140.
[12] Mo Chenli, 2022. “The Practical Exploration of English Translation Activity Courses in Higher Education Institutions under the Background of Artificial Intelligence ”. Journal of Taiyuan Urban Vocational College, 2022(03), pp.86-88.
[13] Wang Huan, 2020. “The Study of English Writing Pedagogies Impacted by ESP in the Era of Artificial Intelligence —Opportunities and Challenges ”, Journal of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Vol. 42(03), pp.209-214.
[14] Lian Yiqing, 2021. “Exploration of English Composite Talent Cultivation Models in the New Era under the Perspective of ESP ” Journal of Changchun Normal University, Vol. 40(03), pp. 186-189.
[15] Gvelesiani, I. 2023. “Teaching ESP – New Strategies and Approaches”. Journal of Research in Higher Education, Vol. VII(01), pp.26-39. (https://doi.org/10.24193/jrhe.2023.1.2)
[16] Xiong Yousheng, 2013. “The Development of Intercultural Communicative Competence in Secretarial English Instruction ”. Journal of Lanzhou Institute of Education, Vol. 29(07), pp.72-73.
[17] Chen Ruijuan, 2020. “Observing the English Classroom in Vocational Colleges and the ‘Grammar-Translation Method’ from the Perspective of the ‘Decline of Chinese’. Guangxi Jiaoyuxueyuan Xuebao, Vol.166 (02), pp.167-171.
[18] Marinov, S. 2016. “Translation Exercise Aided by Data-driven Learning in ESP Context”. ESP Today Vol. 4 (2), pp.225-250. (https://doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2016.4.2.5)
[2] Guo, Yanling, 2014. “The Characteristics of ESP Teaching Methods in the “Post-methods Era” . Theory and Practice of Education, Vol. 34 (24), pp. 41-43.
[3] Kic-Drgas, J. 2014. “Translation in the ESP Teaching”. The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Vol. 2 (02), pp. 253-261.
[4] Mažeikienė, Viktorija, 2019. “Translation as a Method in Teaching ESP: An Introductive Thematic Analysis of Literature”. The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Vol. 6 (03), pp. 513- 523. (https://doi.org/10.22190/jtesap1803513m)
[5] Xiong, Yousheng, 2011. “The Application of Task-based Teaching Method in Secretarial English Instruction ”. Journal of Hubei Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), pp.189-190.
[6] Lin, lv, 2014. “Exploration of Practical Training Teaching Reform in ‘Secretarial English’ Courses in Vocational Colleges ”. Journal of Lanzhou Vocational Technical College, Vol. 30(07), pp. 127-129.
[7] Calis, E. & Dikilitas, K. 2012. “The Use of Translation in EFL Classes as L2 Learning Practice”. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 46, pp. 5079-5084. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.389).
[8] PACTE Group. 2011. “Building a Translation Competence Model.” In Methods and Strategies of Process Research: Integrative Approaches in Translation Studies, edited by C. Alvstad et al., pp. 317–343. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. (https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.45.06pac).
[9] Gong, Wenli, 2012. “On the Causes of Lagging Translation Teaching in College General English ”. Journal of Changchun University of Science and Technology, Vol.7 (10), pp.190-191.
[10] Li Lu, 2019. “On the Principles and Methods of Classroom Introduction in English Teaching ”. Journal of Liaoning Teachers College (Social Sciences Edition), Vol.121 (01), pp. 47-48.
[11] Cui Fenrong, 2014. “Evaluation of Modular Teaching in Vocational English Instruction: A Case Study of Shaanxi Vocational College”. Shaanxi Jiaoyu · Gaojiao, 2014(Z1), pp. 139-140.
[12] Mo Chenli, 2022. “The Practical Exploration of English Translation Activity Courses in Higher Education Institutions under the Background of Artificial Intelligence ”. Journal of Taiyuan Urban Vocational College, 2022(03), pp.86-88.
[13] Wang Huan, 2020. “The Study of English Writing Pedagogies Impacted by ESP in the Era of Artificial Intelligence —Opportunities and Challenges ”, Journal of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Vol. 42(03), pp.209-214.
[14] Lian Yiqing, 2021. “Exploration of English Composite Talent Cultivation Models in the New Era under the Perspective of ESP ” Journal of Changchun Normal University, Vol. 40(03), pp. 186-189.
[15] Gvelesiani, I. 2023. “Teaching ESP – New Strategies and Approaches”. Journal of Research in Higher Education, Vol. VII(01), pp.26-39. (https://doi.org/10.24193/jrhe.2023.1.2)
[16] Xiong Yousheng, 2013. “The Development of Intercultural Communicative Competence in Secretarial English Instruction ”. Journal of Lanzhou Institute of Education, Vol. 29(07), pp.72-73.
[17] Chen Ruijuan, 2020. “Observing the English Classroom in Vocational Colleges and the ‘Grammar-Translation Method’ from the Perspective of the ‘Decline of Chinese’. Guangxi Jiaoyuxueyuan Xuebao, Vol.166 (02), pp.167-171.
[18] Marinov, S. 2016. “Translation Exercise Aided by Data-driven Learning in ESP Context”. ESP Today Vol. 4 (2), pp.225-250. (https://doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2016.4.2.5)
Copyright © 2025 Hai Tang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License