Machine translators to improve writing of academic texts: a teaching proposal for language subjects in secondary education

Abstract

[eng] This Master’s Thesis presents a teaching proposal that aims to improve the written skills of compulsory secondary education students, more specifically when writing formal and/or academic texts. In this sense, we aim to propose an innovative methodology through introduction and, therefore, access to machine translation (MT), so that students can integrate this online resource into their writing learning in order that MT help them to express themselves adequately when producing these specific texts. Likewise, we would also like students to obtain an eloquent learning of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), that is, getting students to learn to make critical use of this electronic tool. The theoretical framework has been designed based on the needs that address our central theme of the work we present. We have highlighted the most characteristic and essential features of MT apart from accommodating the importance of being efficient writers. Likewise, interdisciplinarity and the integrated method of languages (namely, English, Spanish and Catalan) have been included, since our teaching proposal contemplates the possibility of being worked between different educational departments. The current educational curriculum in the Balearic Islands has been considered. However, referring to the practical part, we have developed a teaching proposal based on a series of small activities which, in the end, lead to a final task. In this sense, we start from MT as the tool by which we will proceed to improve the writing of high school students of formal and/or academic texts. Finally, a series of evaluation tools have been implemented, which will allow to assess the process of design and realization of the proposed work of activities, as well as the sessions required so that the designed teaching proposal can be carried out, in order to achieve the intended purpose: to improve the communicative writing skills of high school students.