Translation and Own-Language Use in Language Teaching: The Quest for Optimal Practice

This book reconsiders the role of translation and own-language use in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom. It shows prospective teachers how to use the learners’ own language and translation optimally. The author surveys current research about the EFL classroom and presents both a theoretical framework and a didactic model for using translation and learners’ mother tongues. This is done through an action research project, assessing the proposed didactic model for optimal translation practice in English Language teaching (OTP in ELT) through its integration into teacher education. The book will be of interest to students and researchers in the areas of Translation Studies and Applied Linguistics (particularly EFL, ESL, TEFL and TESOL), as well as educators and designers of pre-service training programmes for language teachers.

Eva Skopečková is an Assistant Professor at the University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic.