The Effect of Using Mobiles in Students' Ability in Translation from English Into Arabic at Jadara University in Jordan

International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation 2017; 3(3): 32-39 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijalt doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20170303.11 ISSN: 2472-1166 (Print); ISSN: 2472-1271 (Online) The Effect of Using Mobiles in Students' Ability in Translation from English into Arabic at Jadara University in Jordan Mohammad AlShehab The Department of English Language and Literature, Jadara University, Irbid, Jordan Email address: [email protected] To cite this article: Mohammad AlShehab. The Effect of Using Mobiles in Students' Ability in Translation from English into Arabic at Jadara University in Jordan. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation. Vol. 3, No. 3, 2017, pp. 32-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20170303.11 Received: April 19, 2017; Accepted: May 8, 2017; Published: May 29, 2017 Abstract: The current study aims at touching upon the effect of mobile method on improving students' translation from English into Arabic. The sample of the students was chosen randomly from the English Department at Jadara University in Jordan. The sample consisted of 40 translation students. It was divided into two similar Groups, Experimental, and Control. Experimental students were asked to use their mobiles in translation, while the Control students used a normal method in translating English or Arabic vocabularies into their equivalents. T-test for independent samples' was used to compare between the two Groups at pre and post tests. The results revealed the higher level in translation for the benefit of the Experimental Group. It also revealed statistical differences between pre and post tests for the Experimental Group. Recommendations and suitable suggestions were set up for future research. Keywords: Translation, Jadara University, Students' Ability, Mobile Method has a human touch. Chhabra (2012) emphasizes the use of e- 1. Introduction Learning devices in teaching English, like Internet, YouTube, The popularization of the computer and its technology had Skype, Twitter, and Mobile. He indicates that these devices led very quickly to use it for translation. It is used through give enormous opportunities in practicing language skills in a the appearance of useful translator tools including translation foreign language class/individual with classes/ individuals in memories, the translation management programs, electronic other countries. Al shehab (2013) indicates that UNESCO corpora, and so forth (Matusov et al. 2006). They continue has recommended using mobile technologies in educational that the breakthrough happening in the computer systems to support teachers' and students' development. technologies may lead to new theories in translation to be UNESCO policy ensures the utilization of mobile device, more functional than paper and pen translation. In other where possible, in educational resources, curricula, and words, E-learning such as Machine translation (MT) and plans. By using the mobile devices, students and teachers can Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) are intended to replace get more benefit as they own this device more than any other translators. Software in MT aims at assembling all the technological device. information necessary for translation in one program so that a Nowadays it seems that mobile phones are used by text can be translated. Sim et al (2007), on the other hand, everyone at home, school and anywhere. Thus, we ought to indicate that the sector of communities stimulated the know how mobile phones technology can support learning in demand for electronic translation leading to the development the second language classroom. The ever-increasing in countries such as France, Germany, Canada and Japan of functions invented in mobile inspire most students to use it. new translation systems from one language to another. With For the importance of this subject, a number of researchers global interconnectivity, modern day activities are fuelling describe some practical ways to support second language the growth of the translation because CAT responds more learning by using mobile, both inside and outside the realistically to translation and supporting actual needs since it classroom. Chinnery (2006) says that recent interest in the 33 Mohammad AlShehab: The Effect of Using Mobiles in Students' Ability in Translation from English into Arabic at Jadara University in Jordan potential for mobile phones to support learning and teaching teachers can share with students’ movies, audio files and has been driven by the fact that mobile phones are relatively other learning materials through their mobile phones. Most of cheap powerful. Similarly, Kukulska-Hulme and Traxler the mobile phones have features which can be used for (2005) point out that learners are used to working with recording and playing multimedia contents. Students can mobiles more than computers, they used mobiles for many greatly benefit from having a camera on the cell phones for activities, from reading articles to emailing. documenting visual materials and collecting scientific data. Ferry, (2009) states that mobile phones are becoming Mobile Phones in Language Classrooms popular as many people can afford them. In education, Using mobile phones in the second language learning mobile phones have led to the evolution of new paradigm generally focuses on developing the four skills (integrating known as mobile learning. Currently, UNESCO (2012), the speaking with listening and reading with writing) (Reinders use of mobile communication devices has gone beyond the and Lewis 2009), such as the following: traditional communication role, it is now used in supporting a) Using the Notes feature to collect everyday language. teaching and learning. The rapid growth of access to mobile Most mobile phones have a feature that allows them to phones around the world, particularly in Africa and the take notes. Students can use this feature to take notes on Middle East regions have a potential of improving teaching English they read or hear outside school and either and learning to enable national education system present the notes to the class or send them to others as a transformation. Huang et al (2010) says that mobile learning text message. applications can facilitate students teaching and learning. By b) Using the Camera to take pictures of text is one of the this way, they can interact with others collaboratively easiest ways to use a mobile phone. Students can take anytime and anywhere. They continue that modern mobile pictures of English texts by using the Camera on their phones can be used to help students to access web based mobile phones. If students do not have a data contents, share it, collaborate with others and create media connection, they can transfer pictures to a computer and rich deliverable for the classroom teachers as well as global upload them from there. audience. Similarly, the universities in the United Kingdom c) Using the Voice Memo Recorder feature to record (UK), Ferry(2009) says, have made the use of mobile phones conversations outside the classroom. Students can to store and retrieve information such as e-books, record interviews or conversations they engage in instructional materials, reviewing students’ marks. For outside the classroom. Students can play the interviews instance, teachers in higher education in UK have made use and conversations in class for feedback and discussion. of SMS as prompt for course requirements, polling classes, d) 5Using the Text Messaging feature for writing is a pop quizzes to students and sending information about time feature that should be encouraged to improve students’ table and reminding students about dates for examination. writing as it is associated by fun far away from boring Mobile Features assignments. If students are not ready to write essays, Mobiles have many features that are being utilized for they can practice with shorter texts to develop their various educational practices. The use of Short Message writing skills. Students can create a story together by Services (SMS), GPS, camera, browsing, downloading, contributing one text message at a time. Each student bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice calls, and gaming makes it more writes a sentence or two and then sends this on to the effective (Kizito, 2012 &Hoppe 2009). They say that SMS next student who adds another message, and so on until System can be used to help students learn foreign languages, the story is completed. and teachers can `use SMS to communicate with one student e) Using the mobile phone to keep a blog. This requires a or even one group of students. Hoppe (2009) and Ferry phone with a connection to the Internet (or the use of a (2009) meet each other in saying that students can use wireless network at home or perhaps at school). browsers to check emails, read materials such as eBooks, and Students use the Text Messaging and Camera features to watch lecture from anywhere and at any time. Browsing with add messages and post pictures to their personal blogs. cell phones is one convenient way for students to surf online. This is great for writing about personal experiences, Most of the modern mobile phones are incorporated with places visited, and people met, but it can also be used as browsing applications such as Opera Mini, Internet explorer, an activity in which students collect information and Mozilla fire fox, Opera and Google chrome. Kafyulilo (2012) report it like journalists. Teachers can read these blogs indicates that mobile phones have downloading feature and provide feedback, request more information, or ask which can be used by students and tutors to download students to comment on each other’s work. various kinds of materials through their mobile phones easily. A study done by Thornton and Houser (2003) shows that a Teachers can download video through their mobile phones Short Message Service (SMS) text messages can be used to and present them to students through a TV set available in send out vocabulary items at spaced intervals, thus increasing the classrooms. Mobile phones can be used for sharing student retention. For example, you could text the words information resources through Infrared, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

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