Visually Impaired Novice Translators in Using Translation Techniques

Background: This study aims to determine the translation techniques used by visually impaired translators in translating popular scientific texts. Visually impaired translators were used as the subjects of this study because when compared to sighted translators, visually impaired translators had a different way of doing translation activities. The difference in this performance is influenced using text-to-speech tools they use. Apparently, this phenomenon has not been discussed by various specialized translation research previously and by involving blind translators as research subjects directly, translation techniques can be expected to be identified naturally. Methodology: Using popular scientific texts in the field of psychology, two visually impaired translators were assigned to translate 24 sentences in a translation experiment. To analyze the data that was collected, the researchers used analytical techniques consisting of a domain, taxonomy, and componential analysis. Findings: Since they are too dependent on text-to-speech aids, visually impaired translators use a lot of literal and discursive creation translation techniques. The appearance of these two techniques in their translation implies that the resulting translation cannot match the context of the sentence. This happens because text-to-speech applies word-for-word reading. Conclusion: It is important for visually impaired translators to understand the weaknesses of their translation. Translators should minimize the use of literal and discursive creation translation techniques when translating popular scientific texts. One way is to improve their translation competence.

Optimizing Machine Translation to Overcome Mechanical Engineering Vocational Education Students Difficulties in Academic Writing

Background: Machine translation has been proved to be a favourable style to execute. However, some research evidence difficulties indicates that its focus is on students' difficulties in academic writing, not on how to overcome them by using machine translation. As a result, this research aims to determine how machine translation might be optimized to help mechanical engineering vocational education students with academic writing difficulties. Methodology: The data was collected from 27 second-semester mechanical engineering vocational education students currently enrolled in an English college course at one of the Universities in Jakarta. Questionnaires online were used to obtain the data, which was analyzed and interpreted descriptively. Questionnaire 1 is used to determine whether or not the subject utilized machine translation and, if so, what type of machine translation they used most frequently. Question 2 was split into two sections. PART A was modified from Xiao & Chen (2015), who described students' challenges with academic writing. It comprises 12 items that were delivered to 27 students via Google Form. Meanwhile, the findings of Lee (2020) have been adapted into PART B. Findings: The result of this study revealed that 27 students of mechanical engineering vocational education in one of the Universities in Jakarta encountered several academic writing difficulties such as grammar (construct grammatically correct sentences, the use of appropriate tenses), expressions (discourse markers, part of speech), and vocabulary (proper vocabulary choices and finding synonyms). Grammar problems are the most challenging, followed by vocabulary and phrases. The optimization of machine translation was also discovered to be the most effective way of overcoming vocabulary issues followed by grammar and expression. Conclusion: Academic writing issues emerge in the classroom. According to the findings, the most difficulties students encountered fell into the grammar aspect. On the other hand, the students considered that machine translation would be the most helpful in overcoming their vocabulary challenges. Although machine translation helps deal with academic writing difficulties like developing vocabulary skills, increasing knowledge of grammar rules in context, and finding more authentic expression, teachers should also guide them in writing academically. Keywords: optimizing machine translation; academic writing difficulties; grammar; vocabulary; expressions.

Disney Movie Soundtrack: Does It Give Effect to Students’ Speaking Skill?

Background: The implementation of media in the learning process can be a crucial thing to support students’ competence. Meanwhile, teacher also has a role to utilize creative media in honing students’ English skill especially in speaking. This study showed that the use of song media especially Disney movies soundtrack has a significant effect for eleventh grade students’ speaking skill. However, there are several steps which should be done before applied the treatment. Methodology: This study used quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group design. The object of this study was two classes which divided as experimental group and control group on the eleventh grade at Islamic boarding school. Furthermore, the data were collected from students’ pre-test and post-test scores. The score of test in the experimental group showed the results based on the implementation of treatment using Disney movies soundtrack, while the control group only used conventional learning. Findings: The report of finding in this study revealed that there is a significant effect toward students’ speaking skill after the researcher applied the use of English song especially Disney movies soundtrack as the media during the learning activities. Moreover, it also showed the difference between score of students in experimental group which increased than the results of students’ scores in control group. In addition, the learners still have to practice their speaking skill in daily life. Conclusion: The effect of Disney movies soundtrack becomes an effective media for eleventh grade students’ speaking skill at Islamic boarding school. Keywords: Speaking Skill, English Song, Disney Song

The Gender Discrimination in Indonesian Literature Works: A Case Study of Translation

Background: Although many kinds of research on gender discrimination have been made, empirical research on this matter under the perspective of translation technique is still rare. Therefore, this present research aimed to study gender discrimination in three novels authored by Pramoedya Ananta Toer and how gender discrimination is translated into English. Methodology: This case study was applied in three novels written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Anak Semua Bangsa, Rumah Kaca, and Jejak Langkah. The data were collected through observations and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The results showed that gender discrimination in the three novels was subordination, stereotype, marginalization, workload, and violence. Gender discrimination is translated using established equivalence, explicitation, modulation, paraphrase, implicitation, addition, transposition, reduction, compensation, discursive creation, pure borrowing, deletion, generalization, and particularization. Conclusion: This research reveals that gender discrimination is a phenomenon that commonly occurs in the world community. The research implications are also discussed either empirically or practically at the end of this article.

Text-Based Language Teaching in the New-Normal Era to Achieve Communicative Competence: Challenges for EFL Teachers

Background: To live in this communicative era, people need to have communicative competence. The main aim of ELT is to enable the students to communicate or to produce a text. Thus, EFL teaching needs to facilitate them to achieve communicative competence so that they can participate actively in their communities. EFL teachers can utilize text-based teaching to realize this. Text-based teaching involves the use of texts, which are context bases for achieving communicative competence. This paper is a reflection, describing the teachers' common problems in implementing text-based teaching, especially under the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This study is qualitative survey research to gain in-depth information about the topic of the study. The goal of this study is to describe the teachers' perception of Text-Based Approach in ELT and to describe their challenges to implement text-based online teaching. Open-ended survey questions were delivered to 15 research participants. To get a comprehensive understanding of the research participants' opinions, the researchers followed up their answers with an interview via a telephone call. Findings: The questionnaire, interview, and teachers’ self-written reflection revealed the teachers’ common problems in implementing text-based teaching, i.e. in selecting texts, in adapting or in modifying texts, in designing tasks, in overcoming students’ boredom, besides the problems of online teaching. Conclusion: The main root of the problems is the teachers' lack of knowledge of text-based approach. Thus, updating the teachers' knowledge can be one of the solutions to the problems.

Oral Communication Strategies Training: The Case of Pre-Service English Teachers in Indonesia

Background: Many researches on pre-service English teachers have been carried out in various aspects, from teaching techniques to psychology. However, research on oral communication strategies of pre-service English teachers is still little done. This study delved into the effect of oral communication strategies training on pre-service English teachers’ speaking performance. In addition, it revealed the relationship between gender and types of oral communication strategies. Methodology: This study involved 27 students who joined in Speaking 3 course. The OCSI as the instrument in this study consisted of eight categories of strategies for coping with speaking problems and seven types for dealing with listening problems Findings: Results from descriptive statistics showed that before the training, message reduction mainly was used while social affective and attempt to think in English was the least often employed strategy for resolving speaking difficulties. Meanwhile, after the training, a Non-verbal strategy while speaking was frequently used by the students. Message abandonment became the least used strategy after training was implemented. In dealing with listening problems, before the training, Non-Verbal strategies while listening was mostly used while the least used strategy was getting the gist. After the training, Word oriented became the most often employed technique Meanwhile, strategies for preserving fluency were the least frequently adopted. Conclusion: The MANOVA results of data analysis revealed that female students significantly performed better in speaking English than male students. However, there was no significant difference in Oral Communication Strategy used between male and female students.

Experiential Meaning Breadth Variations of the English-Bahasa Indonesia Alice in Wonderland Movie Texts

Research on experiential meaning breadth of bilingual analysis is rarely performed. The research aims at describing (1) the experiential meaning breadth variations of Alice in Wonderland English- Bahasa Indonesia movie texts, (2) the contextual factors that motivate the occurrence of meaning and realization variations, and (3) the contextual effects of the meaning and realization variations in question on the context in reference to the target readers of the texts. The research used descriptive qualitative approach to make the interpretation and the research findings. The data were taken from Alice in Wonderland (2010) movie texts then measured and validated in terms of quantitative research then analyzed through several steps: classifying the data into realized and unrealized expressions, classifying the data into the categories or degrees of variations, classifying the higher degree of each clause compared, giving number of clauses and their process type, contrasting each analysis result, and drawing conclusions. Research results indicate that the most prominent degree of experiential meaning breadth variations falls into the “lowest” category of variation with 57.54%. This means that the Target Text is closely related to the Source Text and/ or the translator of Target Text applied source- based translation as regards experiential meaning breadth complexity. It is also strengthened by the average degree in each of the analysis falling in “very low” category. The contextual factors that motivate the occurrence of the variations consist of inter- textual and situational context (field, mode, and tenor). The contextual effects in reference to the target readers are related to two aspects; the readability and the purpose of creating the texts. The Target Text is readable for the target readers of the text, target readers feel entertained by interpreting the text. The purpose for creating the Target Texts is for education and gives effects for the target readers to enrich their vocabularies and improve their English skills.

Pedagogical Perspectives on Teaching Materials of Translation in English Language Teaching

Background: This research paper attempts to analyze the vocational English instructors’ view point on the cultivation of teaching material of Pedagogical Translation in the Subject of Translation in English Language Teaching (ELT). Methodology: The qualitative design was used to collect the data. Utilizing the questionnaire with Likert Scale, the quantitative data were gained from 30 vocational English teachers in Sumatera Utara Province. Findings: Data obtained revealed that 52.45 % of respondents agreed with the teaching material, and 43.10 % strongly agreed with those. Only 4.45 % of respondents strongly disagreed with those topics. Data analysis showed that the 58 elements in the Subject of Translation in ELT have covered the teaching materials in Vocational school. Conclusion: It was concluded, within nine areas questioned to the vocational English teachers, most of them (92%) agree with the statements. Furthermore, all the respondents 100% are in the opinion that there should be English for vocational school materials included within the translation materials studied in the Subject on Translation in ELT.

Examining the Relationship between EFL Students' OSEL and Their Achievement

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between EFL student’s online self-regulated (OSEL) and the achievements of senior high school students in Malang, Indonesia. The subject of this study were 136 EFL students of a senior high school in Malang, Indonesia with the use of two instruments: the online self-regulated learning questionnaire (containing five dimensions of OSEL; Goal Making, Environmental Construct, Task Approach & Time Management, Help-Seek, Self - Evaluation) and the mid-term test scores. Methodology: The Pearson product-moment correlation is used to analyze the data and further verifies that students OSEL strongly correlates to their achievements while undertaking online learning. Findings: It was reported that the higher the OSEL, the better they achieve. For example, students who have high achievement test scores agree that finding someone knowledgeable in online learning is an excellent solution to solve online learning difficulties. However, since technical and individual obstacles that students encounter could be the challenge, the role of teachers are essential in helping students overcoming them. Conclusion: The results of this correlation provide prediction towards pedagogical implications related to successful teaching-learning process, teacher professionalism, and maintaining a high quality school.

An In-depth Qualitative Analysis of Situated Learning Instruction in Situation Awareness for Military English Course

While situated learning (SL) instruction has been adopted for educational purposes in many fields, an SL environment for military English has not been considered. Situation awareness (SA) is an important theme in the military English course, SL instruction can be a suitable method to enhance cadets’ learning performance in SA operation. This study investigated the SA concept formation and operation as the effects of conducting SL instruction. A film acted as an authentic military context, which sixteen cadets in Taiwan, R.O.C. accessed to perform SA. On the basis of Blooms’ six cognition levels, the researchers gave an in-depth qualitative analysis over their learning performance of SA. The research tools include worksheets, English role-plays, and concept maps. Worksheets were designed to observe their SA concept formation in four film situations during Endsley’s three steps of SA: perception, comprehension, and projection. The researchers used English role plays to judge whether they actively operated SA and concept maps to see if they formed new SA concepts.