Teaching without translating

[myprofe]

If the only difference between languages was the words we use then there would be no need for translators. It would only be a matter of switching from one language to another in the same way that we convert from the metric system to the English system of weights and measures. Software programs designed to convert documents into different languages would be cheap and 100% accurate. Unfortunately it’s not what we say but how we say it that makes each language unique. The difference between the Spanish verbs “ser” and “estar” are lost when translating to English. The double negative, commonly used in Spanish, sounds terrible in English. The verb “to look” means “mirar” but be careful with look out, look into, look over, look after, look for, look up, and look up to. “Esta noche” could be last night or tonight depending on how and when you use it.
Gordon
http://www.myprofe.com/tandem

[visitor]

"Unfortunately it’s not what we say but how we say it that makes each language unique."

Why "unfortunately" ? If the grammar between languages was identical, most language teachers would be out of a job...

[myprofe]

Please, don't take this personal. I don't get any pleasure out of corresponding with people who don't bother to register or even identify themselves. I don't understand why forums permit anonymous contributions. :?
http://www.myprofe.com/tandem

[Susan]

You say you don't understand why we permit anonymous contributions.

We're happy to hear anything that people in the EFL community have to say about language or any other topic. I think everybody and anybody can make a worthwhile contribution.

Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly. The opinions of these people still count.

Susan

[Guest]

Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly.

People don't register because they don't want to be held responsible for what they do or write. It's very dangerous to let unregistered members write whatever they want and spam the registered members. Apparently you've been lucky up to now. :roll:

[cmcole]

Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly.

People don't register because they don't want to be held responsible for what they do or write. It's very dangerous to let unregistered members write whatever they want and spam the registered members. Apparently you've been lucky up to now. :roll:

We're English teachers in foreign countries!! What kind of banter is this?! If we cannot support or flat out don't WANT to support each other, no matter Guest or what, then how the HECK can we support our students?!

Personally, this website has been of great help to me in the past 1.6 years, and many of the Guests/Anonymous writers have helped me in my teaching. I don't care if they are registered or not. Thank you for all your comments/suggestions/help.

Sincerely,
Ajarn Cole at Naresuan University, Phitsanulok Thailand