Using translated books while teaching second languages <

Using translated books while teaching second languages

One of the linguistic skills that every teaching approach throughout history has considered to be essential is reading comprehension. Even in the communicational method, which focuses on creating real-live situations where you would have to talk, and emphasizes orals, you must constantly strengthen your reading comprehension skills, both in class and beyond. That is undoubtedly a key skill which the teacher must strengthen.

It is common when teaching a second language to use translated books with different levels with the aim of practising reading comprehension. This will undoubtedly be very useful material, as the higher level students will find it easier to understand the text than those who are just starting the course.

I have always thought that a teacher of second languages, as well as merely being a teacher, is a vehicle of culture, traditions and history, possibly the first point of contact that a student will have with the sociocultural reality of the country whose language they want to learn; he will be responsible for introducing the most genuine form possible. And currently, there are many edited and abridged books: basically like summaries where they condense the story and adapt the language to the necessary level desired. Literarily, it is an abomination. Because of this, the role of the teacher as a vehicle of culture and traditions could end in a disaster. You are providing the student with false material, you are diluting the writer’s style and changing a book, which in many cases, is a literary classic and an inherent part of our culture, and must be introduced as it is, without changes.

While I am not convinced about the use of the books, your didatic value, is on the other hand, very important. In this way, your reading must be put under consideration. But the teacher should probably make more of an effort, choosing books, without changes, whose style and language has been adapted to the level of your class. There are so many examples in our literature. So, you wouldn't lose this didatic tool, which I consider to be essential, but at the same time you will introduce real examples of our literature, and as I have said, our culture.