The Role of Translation in Teaching English to Technical Students: Learner Perspectives and Methodological Implications

Abstract

The article examines the role of translation in teaching English to technical students and analyses learners' perspectives on translation as a supportive instructional tool. The relevance of the study is determined by contemporary discussions concerning the appropriateness of using bilingual support alongside communicative approaches in foreign language teaching. The aim of the study is to determine technical students' attitudes toward translation in the process of learning English and to evaluate its effectiveness as a learning tool. The study was conducted among students of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute." Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire administered via Google Forms, which included both closed-ended and open-ended questions related to speaking difficulties, the use of mental translation, attitudes toward translation functions, and strategies for understanding English-language audiovisual content. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, while open-ended responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate that translation remains an important cognitive mechanism in the process of learning English. The main difficulties experienced by students involve grammar and lexical retrieval, which leads to the use of mental translation as a compensatory strategy. Most respondents positively evaluate translation as a means of vocabulary acquisition, grammar explanation, and comprehension support. A considerable proportion of students also use subtitles while watching English-language content, indicating the continuing need for translation-based support in audiovisual comprehension. The conclusions emphasise that native-language mediation can function as an effective pedagogical resource when applied in a controlled and purposeful manner. The study confirms the importance of combining translation-based and communicative methods in teaching English to technical students.