Foreign Language Teaching in Translation and Interpreting Studies: What can we learn from research?

What can we learn from research?

Abstract

The knowledge of both foreign and mother languages constitutes a core competence in translator and interpreter training, as translation cannot exist if this competence has not been previously consolidated. Nevertheless, research regarding the teaching and acquisition of foreign languages within Translation and Interpreting studies is extremely scarce and its practice frequently adheres to general pedagogical models which do not keep to the ultimate goal and main objectives that should lay down the foreground for this type of teaching. On this basis, this article aims to discuss the main literature derived from this field of expertise and offer a reflection on the teaching implications. For such purpose the teaching of foreign languages for translator and interpreter trainees will first be contextualized and a series of basic pedagogical principles will be established. Subsequently, an analysis of the four main communicative skills (written comprehension and expression and oral comprehension and expression) will be carried out. Last but not least, by way of conclusion, the teaching implications that derive from research into this discipline will be discussed.