Uncovering the potential of the google search engine for L2 learning and L2 translator training

Abstract

The paper presents a study investigating the use of the Google Search Engine in L2 translation and L2 learning. A group of undergraduate students in Tourism Management was introduced to three tips for effective Google search as part of their optional course in the basics of translation. A week later, half of the students attended a session devoted to further practice of the tips. Later, both groups were asked to translate a short text from Czech, their native language, into English with the assistance of the Google Search Engine. Drawing on the participants’ translations, written protocols and search histories, the study analyses their online behavior during L2 text production, providing examples of successful applications of search strategies and explaining cases where online search techniques failed to connect effectively with the user’s language skills and reflection.