Translation Method - pros and cons

In second language classes, the students are asked to translate to and fro the first language and the target language. This exercise is one of the several forms of exercises used in the language classes. Is this a good idea? What are the pros and cons. This post analyzes the pros and cons of the translation exercise using Six Thinking Hats method.

White Hat - The facts

The translation method was first introduced in England in early 1900s to train their students to translate documents and books from other other languages to English and vice-versa. This approach helped meet the goal of the British government. The goal was not to train the students to learn a language; it was just to help with translation. The schools focused on vocabulary and grammar rules necessary to do the translation job. Hence this method is called Translation Method.

Translation Method is one of the several language teaching methods used today. There are so many approaches with each having pros and cons. There is no one size fits all method out there. It is hard to say a particular method will meet the needs of all language learners. It is up to the language teachers to adopt a method that helps them to reach their language teaching goal.

Like many other methods, the translation method also adds some value.


Yellow Hat - the Pros

The objectives of the translation exercises in the language class are language exposure, and vocabulary practice, and also serves as validation of language understanding. It helps with vocabulary practice.

Black Hat  -  the Cons

It is a learning activity; that is, it is a conscious drill. What is learned during conscious drill is forgotten soon It is not that interesting. Consumes the scarce resource; student's time. Designed to focus on the form, not meaning. The kids should know the grammar of both the language; it puts too much pressure on them. It is not meant for helping them with conversation with native speakers. It results in very low amount of acquired competence.

Green Hat - the Alternatives

Involve the kids in the language acquisition activities. Use the language in contexts. Practice language for communication. Help them read an interesting stories. Help them use the language. Tell stories. Ask them do Free voluntary reading (FVR).


Blue Hat - Conclusion

It is not completely wrong to do translation exercise. But, looks like this exercise gives less value for more effort. Since the time is little, it will be good to use that time for language acquisition activities.


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Six Thinking Hats - A tool to analyze a proposal and take informed decision.

Traditional thinking

Traditional thinking is done through argument and debate, where each point is challenged as they arise. Ego, emotions, bias, animosity etc invariably intrude on this thinking with the consequence that the progress grinds to a halt as time is wasted. We all experienced the horror of sitting through many hours of time wasted, with very little concrete progress. Proposals are taken one by one and debated ad nauseam rather than explored objectively.

Traditional thinking involves an initial reaction to a statement or action. Most of the times the discussion will be like 'I like/don't like that because....', 'I agree/don't agree because ....' This is mostly reactive and opportunity to proactively look at the strength and weakness of the proposal is missed.

A better approach

Facts	Positives SIX THINKING HATS	Negatives
Alternatives	Emotions	Decision making

I am in charge of training at California Tamil Academy, a community organization that teaches Tamil to over 4000 students on the weekends. We arrange training by professional trainers to our teachers. Last year we had an opportunity to be trained by a professional trainer from Singapore who taught us several teaching strategies. She introduced a strategy called “Six Thinking Hats” which will help us encourage conversation in the class. Of all the strategies she taught us, the Six Thinking Hats strategy caught my attention and I could see the potential of the strategy beyond classroom situation. I explored further reading about it in the wiki and books on the topic. I present here what I learned.

The strategy was first introduced and copyrighted in 1985 by Edward DeBono as a tool to openly discuss any situation and take informed decision. The book “Six Thinking Hats for Schools” by James O’Sullivan explains the strategy and application details in a classroom situation.

The Six Thinking Hats

	White Hat - represents blank white paper where we record information. Only facts are discussed during white hat thinking. Further information on the facts can be requested.
	Yellow Hat - represents Sun which is warm and good. Look only at the benefits or good points; the advantages, why it will work, etc.
	Black Hat - represents color worn by a judge. We look only at the faults; the disadvantages, weakness, why it will not work etc.
	Green Hat - represents growth and new life. Creative hat. We come up with alternatives, fresh ideas or possibilities.
	Red Hat - represents blood and heart, the seat of emotions. We look only at the feelings. We state how we feel about the proposal.
	Blue Hat - represents sky which oversees everything. We discuss further, summarise, and decide. We also explore need for further thinking.

During one colored thinking, the other thinking is not allowed. This encourages the entire team to focus on the merits and demerits of the proposal individually one at a time.

The approach

When you have a situation use the time as follows focusing on one aspect of the proposal at a time. The entire team will explore one aspect of the proposal at a time.

1. Spend 3 minutes doing white hat thinking. Look at the available information on the issue.
   
2. Spend 3 minutes doing yellow hat thinking. Look only at the advantages of the issue.
   
3. Spend 3 minutes doing Black Hat thinking. Look at why it is a bad idea, what the difficulties, what are the disadvantages.
   
4. Spend 3 minutes doing green Hat thinking. What alternative do we have? Is there a better way?
   
5. Spend a few minutes using both Yellow and then Black Hat to assess some of the alternatives.
   
6. Make a decision using Red Hat to vote on who likes the idea and who does not.

Time is spent more productively and the pros and cons are analysed as a group.

The Six Thinking Hats is parallel thinking, and puts all participants on an equal footing without any individual need to win. Everyone looks in the same direction at the same time without any judgement, argument or debate.

Conclusion

Meeting times can be reduced to a quarter. Avoids combating during the discussion. Avoids argument and debate. It is extremely useful, in group thinking situations, to enable focus and facilitate parallel thinking. Using the Six thinking hats causes an amazing transformation in meetings by shortening the time while greatly increasing productive outcome.

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