Journal of Digital Convergence (디지털융복합연구)

The Society of Digital Policy and Management (한국디지털정책학회)
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Translator-Assisted L2 Writing, Necessary or Not?: Beginner University Learners' Perceptions of Its Validity

대학 L2 글쓰기에서 번역기 사용은 필요한가?: 타당성에 대한 초급반 학습자의 인식

  • 김경란 (단국대학교 자유교양대학)
  • Received : 2020.05.15
  • Accepted : 2020.06.20
  • Published : 2020.06.28
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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate beginner-level learners' use of translators in L2 writing, and shed light on its validity in writing performance through their responses on the necessity, reliability and limitation of machine translation. 117 university students from beginner-level L2 writing classes participated in the survey. Additionally, 11 of them were interviewed about their answers. The survey and interview data revealed varying viewpoints such as reliability and effects as well as reasons for choosing translator-assisted writing. The vast majority(76.1%) used web-based machine translators for their writing activities, and employed various strategies to help their insufficient L2 skills and to increase their motivation and confidence. On the other hand, they exhibited its detrimental effects including it could lead to plagiarism, and interfere with the learning process unless they post-edited the given translation. However, translators were viewed as a new, efficient, and valid educational tool for effective and successful L2 writing.

본 연구는 초급반 L2 쓰기 수업에서 번역기의 사용 현황을 조사하고, 그들이 응답한 번역기의 필요성, 신뢰도, 한계를 통해 그 타당성을 조명하고자 했다. 대학에서 초급 L2 수업을 수강한 117명의 학생이 설문조사에 참여했고, 그 가운데 11명은 추가적으로 실시된 심층면접에서 응답 내용을 설명했다. 수집된 자료에서 쓰기 수업에 활용된 번역기의 신뢰 정도, 효과, 사용 범위 등에 대한 다양한 관점들이 제시되었다. 응답자의 76.1%가 쓰기 활동에서 나름대로의 방법과 목적을 가지고 번역기를 사용하고 있었다. 그들은 번역기를 통해 부족한 영어 능력을 보완했고, 그 과정에서 수업참여의 동기와 자신감이 고취되었다고 설명했다. 반면에, 학생들은 부정확한 기계번역을 검토와 수정이라는 중요한 학습 과정을 생략한 채 그대로 옮겨 쓰게 된다면 학습 효과도 없을 뿐 아니라 표절행위가 될 수 있음을 지적했다. 그럼에도 불구하고 번역기는 이 시대에 새롭게 등장한 효율적인 학습 도구이며 효과적이고 완성도 있는 글쓰기를 위해 활용될 가치가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

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