Investigating the Role of Translation in Teaching Culture to Foreign Language Learners at Institutions of Higher Education in Algeria

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 3, 259 - 276, 30.09.2024

Fadila Abadou

https://doi.org/10.30622/tarr.1497376

Abstract

The incorporation of cultural elements into the language education curriculum, particularly within the context of second language acquisition, is widely acknowledged as an essential and foundational component that significantly enhances the overall effectiveness and success of the educational process. This inclusive approach not only fosters linguistic proficiency but also promotes cross-cultural understanding. It provides students with a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, cultivating a deep appreciation for diverse cultures while refining their language skills. It is crucial to recognize and understand the deep connection between culture and language, as they are closely intertwined and mutually dependent. The interconnected relationship between culture and language suggests that they should be considered together rather than separately in human communication and expression. In order to gain a deep understanding of a foreign language, learners should engage with the cultural context that shapes it. This includes exploring the traditions, beliefs, and customs that influence the language of a community. Immersing oneself in the cultural background not only enhances comprehension but also facilitates the attainment of fluency and proficiency in the language being learned. Therefore, educators in the field of language instruction are responsible for integrating cultural aspects into their teaching methods, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive language learning experience that encompasses both linguistic and cultural aspects. Incorporating cultural insights and practices into language teaching enables instructors to facilitate a more comprehensive and effective learning process, allowing learners to engage with the language in a meaningful and authentic manner. It is widely accepted that the integration of cultural elements not only enhances the learning experience but also plays a pivotal role in fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the target language, thereby enriching the linguistic proficiency of the learners. This study aims to explore the role of translation in teaching culture to foreign language learners and its impact on their intercultural communicative competence. It focuses on assessing the current state of cultural education in the context of foreign language learning and the significance of translation in conveying cultural concepts to language students. The study also seeks to investigate teachers' attitudes towards incorporating translation in foreign language classrooms at Algerian universities and the impact of these attitudes on their teaching curricula. To acquire relevant information, a structured questionnaire was shared among a total of 18 instructors who specialize in foreign languages within the academic realm of Algerian tertiary institutions, aiding in the collection of primary data that was subsequently subjected to thorough examination and interpretation through the utilisation of a research framework that combines descriptive and analytical methodologies. The findings of the study indicate that translation plays a crucial role in enhancing linguistic competence for language learners. Understanding cultural nuances is essential for language educators and students due to the interconnectedness of language and culture. Integrating cultural components into language teaching is significant as it provides learners with diverse perspectives and contexts. Additionally, translation is important in educating foreign language learners about culture, helping them deepen their understanding of their own cultural background and compare it with the culture they are studying, thus improving their intercultural skills and enhancing their ability to acknowledge and respect cultural differences.

Keywords

translation, culture, teaching foreign languages, communicative competence, comparative approach

Cezayir’deki Yükseköğretim Kurumlarında Yabancı Dil Öğrenenlere Kültür Öğretiminde Çevirinin Rolünün Araştırılması

Abstract

Kültürel unsurların dil eğitimi müfredatına dahil edilmesi, özellikle de ikinci dil edinimi bağlamında, eğitim sürecinin genel etkinliğini ve başarısını önemli ölçüde artıran temel ve temel bir bileşen olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu kapsayıcı yaklaşım yalnızca dilsel yeterliliği değil, aynı zamanda kültürler arası anlayışı da teşvik eder. Öğrencilere kapsamlı ve sürükleyici bir öğrenme deneyimi sunarak, dil becerilerini geliştirirken farklı kültürlere karşı derin bir takdir geliştirmelerini sağlar. Kültür ve dil arasındaki derin bağlantıyı tanımak ve anlamak çok önemlidir, çünkü bunlar iç içe geçmiştir ve birbirlerine bağımlıdır. Kültür ve dil arasındaki birbirine bağlı ilişki, insan iletişimi ve ifadesinde ayrı ayrı değil birlikte ele alınmaları gerektiğini göstermektedir. Yabancı bir dili derinlemesine anlayabilmek için, öğrencilerin o dili şekillendiren kültürel bağlamla ilgilenmeleri gerekir. Bu, bir topluluğun dilini etkileyen gelenekleri, inançları ve görenekleri keşfetmeyi içerir. Kültürel arka plana dalmak sadece anlamayı geliştirmekle kalmaz, aynı zamanda öğrenilen dilde akıcılık ve yeterlilik kazanılmasını da kolaylaştırır. Bu nedenle, dil eğitimi alanındaki eğitimciler, öğrencilerin hem dilsel hem de kültürel yönleri kapsayan kapsamlı bir dil öğrenme deneyimi edinmelerini sağlamak için kültürel yönleri öğretim yöntemlerine entegre etmekle sorumludur. Kültürel anlayış ve uygulamaların dil öğretimine dahil edilmesi, eğitmenlerin daha kapsamlı ve etkili bir öğrenme sürecini kolaylaştırmalarını sağlayarak öğrencilerin dille anlamlı ve özgün bir şekilde etkileşime girmelerine olanak tanır. Kültürel unsurların entegrasyonunun yalnızca öğrenme deneyimini geliştirmekle kalmayıp aynı zamanda hedef dilin daha derinlemesine anlaşılmasını ve takdir edilmesini teşvik etmede önemli bir rol oynadığı ve böylece öğrencilerin dilsel yeterliliklerini zenginleştirdiği yaygın olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu çalışma, yabancı dil öğrenenlere kültür öğretiminde çevirinin rolünü ve kültürlerarası iletişimsel yeterlilikleri üzerindeki etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, yabancı dil öğrenimi bağlamında kültür eğitiminin mevcut durumunu ve kültürel kavramların dil öğrencilerine aktarılmasında çevirinin önemini değerlendirmeye odaklanmaktadır. Çalışma ayrıca, Cezayir üniversitelerindeki yabancı dil sınıflarında çevirinin dahil edilmesine yönelik öğretmen tutumlarını ve bu tutumların öğretim müfredatları üzerindeki etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. İlgili bilgileri elde etmek için, yapılandırılmış bir anket Cezayir yükseköğretim kurumlarının akademik alanında yabancı diller konusunda uzmanlaşmış toplam 18 eğitmen arasında paylaşılmış ve daha sonra betimsel ve analitik metodolojileri birleştiren bir araştırma çerçevesi kullanılarak kapsamlı bir inceleme ve yorumlamaya tabi tutulan birincil verilerin toplanmasına yardımcı olmuştur. Çalışmanın bulguları, çevirinin dil öğrenenler için dilsel yeterliliğin geliştirilmesinde çok önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Dil ve kültürün birbirine bağlı olması nedeniyle kültürel nüansların anlaşılması dil eğitimcileri ve öğrenciler için çok önemlidir. Kültürel bileşenleri dil öğretimine entegre etmek, öğrencilere farklı bakış açıları ve bağlamlar sağladığı için önemlidir. Ayrıca çeviri, yabancı dil öğrenenleri kültür konusunda eğitmek, kendi kültürel geçmişlerine dair anlayışlarını derinleştirmelerine ve bunu eğitim gördükleri kültürle karşılaştırmalarına yardımcı olmak, böylece kültürlerarası becerilerini geliştirmek ve kültürel farklılıkları kabul etme ve bunlara saygı duyma becerilerini artırmak açısından önemlidir.

Keywords

Çeviri, Kültür, Yabancı Dil Öğretimi, İletişimsel Yeterlilik, Karşılaştırmalı yaklaşım.

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