rethinking translation in the second language classroom

Table 4: Cognitive activity #1
3. DIACHRONIC VARIATIONS IN A PASSAGE OF “EL LAZARILLO DE TORMES”
Focus: Cognition
Skills: - written comprehension and
production
Duration: 50 minutes
Material: Source text
Translation strategies:
summary of listening comprehension
analysis and awareness of register
intralingual translation in L2
paraphrasing
40
Level: Intermediate
Advanced
Organization: Group work
Objectives:
Linguistics
- To identify old Spanish use in verbs,
expressions and words.
Communicative
- To produce a communicative adaptation of
the source text into modern Spanish.
Cultural
- To learn about Spanish picaresque
literature.
This activity involves an intralingual translation from old Spanish into modern Spanish. Students
would become aware of the different use in register and genre of old and modern Spanish texts.
Structure of the activity
Step 1 – Pre-analysis: Brief introduction to the genre and plot of the work (listening
comprehension).
Step 2 – Analysis: read the passage and underline words, verbs or expressions in old
Spanish.
- What elements of discourse create cohesion and coherence? Take a closer look
at pronouns, adverbs, connectors, and verb tenses.
- How is the information structured? (old vs. new)
Step 3 – Post-analysis: find modern Spanish equivalents for those verbs, expressions
and verbs in old Spanish.
Step 4: What social and/or political values are implied in this discourse?
Project: Paraphrase the passage into modern Spanish considering that your audience would be
children.