The Impact of a Suggested Practical Programme on Improving Arts of English Seniors’ Translation Competences at IUG and their Attitudes towards Translation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a suggested practical programme on improving Arts of English seniors' translation competences and their attitudes towards translation. The main question guiding this study is: What is the impact of a suggested practical programme on improving Arts of English seniors’ translation competences at IUG and their attitudes towards translation? From this main question, four minor questions are derived, and their answers below: To answer the first question, the researcher referred to previous studies, theoretical framework and some models for classifying translation competences. Then the researcher came out with a modified and refereed model. The results of this effort showed that Arts of English seniors are required to have three main competences: knowledge, skills and attitudes with a list of the most important sub-competences under each of them. To answer the second question, the researcher prepared a suggested programme which includes: a handout for students, job experience, training methods and learning styles and evaluation tools. To answer the third question, the researcher collected data using an assessment card with a supportive tool; self-assessment reports. As the researcher ensured the validity and the reliability of her tools, she constructed her programme and administrated it for 12 days within 5-6 weeks from mid-April to the early of June 2014. Then the suggested programme was applied on 15 students chosen randomly from the sample of the study which was (30) fourth-level-female students from the English Department in the Faculty of Arts at the Islamic University of Gaza. Data collected was analyzed using the SPSS. The t.test independent sample and Eta square were used to measure the effect size after conducting the test of normality. After the researcher had finished the programme, she administrated the post assessment card. The post assessment card results were compared with those of the pre-assessment card and the comparison indicated statistically significant differences on students’ performance in each translation competence domain and the total test domains in favour of the post assessment card. This means that the suggested practical programme was effective and helped students improve their translation competences. To answer the fourth question, the researcher constructed an attitude scale to investigate the subjects’ attitudes towards translation. Results showed that the practical programme had a significant impact on improving the attitudes of Arts of English seniors towards translation.. In the light of these findings, the researcher suggests the following: Paying attention to the necessity of the professional development of the students' cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains for the sake of reaching a level of competency needed to practice the profession of translation. Utilizing the practical programme in improving other language skills, for example writing and speaking. Helping students to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes as basic reading translation competences.