The translation passages often seem quite daunting to students. Especially at A-Level, I tend to find that students have been told to “translate every bit” but not necessarily been given concrete ideas about the process to follow to gain maximum marks. These tips should help.
Do take a bit of time to mark-up the source text before you even start to translate. You can write on the exam paper, as long as you don’t write in the margin.
What to look for:
With the A-Level translation into the target language, double-check whether key vocabulary was included in a previous question on the paper. As an example, if the translation is marked as question number 9.9 on the exam, there is a high likelihood that the source text for questions 9.1-9.8 will contain relevant material.
Tenses – there will be a variety of tenses used both at GCSE and A-Level. At A-Level expect the tense to change regularly, even within the same sentence. Consider whether you would use the same tense in the translated language, or a different one.
Verb endings. If the text is in your target language, then use the verb endings to help you work out who is doing what. If you are translating from English then double-check that you have used the correct endings. Remember that some concepts may be singular in English and plural in the target language, or vice versa. Examples include “le pantalon” (trousers), “la majorité” (the majority) and “les devoirs” (homework) for French.
Adjectives – if you are translating into the target language, don’t forget to think about the ending needed on the adjective – Gender of the noun? Plural? Which case? (for German)
Relative clauses – these make the sentence more interesting to read, and a little trickier to translate. E.g. The protesters who attended the recent demonstrations are expected to appear on Sunday as well.
Which phrases need to be translated differently in the second language to the first? One example of this is in the phrase “I have been living in London for three years”. This is a past continuous tense in English, but both German and French would use the present tense (with “seit” and “depuis” respectively). A second example would be the idea that we put the phrase “ago” after a time phrase in English, but before it in both French and German.
Have you covered all the little words which add key details? Words like rather, but, also, however, although, quite, almost etc do also need to be translated. They should not be left out.
If you find it difficult to work out which translated parts go where in the new sentence, it may be helpful to colour-code different chunks of the text. For example, you could use two different colours, alternating, to show which ideas need to go together. This can be particularly useful when working out the adjective endings needed, or whether the verb should be single or plural.
Proof-read your work! If you have any time left at the end of the exam at all, then please make time to proof-read your translation. Check the verb endings, adjective agreements etc, but also check that it makes sense in the final version. If we wouldn’t need “the” or “a” in the English, then don’t use it! In other words, make sure you follow the grammar rules of the language that you are writing in, not the rules of the language you are translating from.
The New Year has arrived and many of us will be making resolutions to get fit, be healthy or be more organised in our study. If you are learning a new language or trying to become more proficient in one you already speak, then these five great habits will help you make consistent progress throughout the year.
1. A Vocabulary Book.
Way back when I was at school (not quite as long ago as Queen Victoria!), we had vocabulary notebooks. These were brought out for every lesson and we carefully noted down the new words so we could learn them for our weekly vocab test. Schools and learning methods have moved on but I still recommend one of these as you can take it with you from year to year, it gathers all the useful words together by topic and the teacher won’t deprive you of it while they mark your homework.
How to set one up? It’s fairly simple – buy a notebook (an A5 one is fine, A6 may be easier to fit into a pocket). Fold the page down the middle, lengthways, so that you have two columns. Write the title at the top and then the target language in the left column and your home language in the right column. Bingo. If you are tackling a short topic such as numbers, then one or two pages will do. If you think the topic may end up as a long one, for example food, then leave a spare page or two so you can add extra words later.
Important – when writing down your new words make sure you include the gender and the plural if it is a noun, details if it is irregular, the past participle if it is a verb and any other useful information. As one example, German has three different genders for nouns, and you definitely don’t want to have to go back and re-learn them all in time for your exams! You could try highlighting them in a different colour for each gender.
2. A Grammar Folder.
There will be lots of grammar concepts to learn in the new language. If you have already been learning the language for a while, then you may have come across multiple tenses and other grammar rules. It can be a real pain having to flick through old exercise books or piles of papers from several years ago in order to find something, so having all that information in one place can be a real blessing.
How to set one up? Buy an A4 folder, in whatever colour you like, and a couple of sets of dividers. Each time you learn a new grammar concept e.g. the future tense, adjective endings, word order etc, write it up onto a sheet of paper with a clear title. Use highlighter pens, underlining, diagrams or whatever seems appropriate. Then file it in your folder under an appropriate subject heading e.g. “Tenses”.
3. Sticky Notes.
Whether you use them for your shopping list or to leave messages for the family, sticky notes are a common sight in many homes. Whether you get plain yellow ones, coloured ones, funny shapes or the ones which look like speech bubbles, they can be fantastic for vocabulary learning. The obvious idea is to label the items you are trying to learn e.g. “window”, “cupboard”, “fridge” but you could also just write any other word that you need to learn and then stick them up around the home as a regular reminder. Move them around regularly so you don’t get too used to them – or write your target language on one note and your home language on another, then try to match them up. Invest. Invest in sticky notes, now!
4. Regular Practice Time.
Trying to learn a new grammar idea or a list of words is much better done in several short bursts each week rather than one mammoth session. Vocabulary is more likely to stay in your memory if you have practised more than once. You could try focused learning for 10 minutes, three times per week. Or do as some of our students do and put your list near the kettle (or next to your bathroom mirror) so you see it regularly.
5. Vocab Tests.
Whether or not you have regular vocabulary tests during your lessons, it is a simple thing to write a list of the words you are learning (just your home language) and then slip it into a folder for later. When it comes to revision time you have a handy set of tests you can use to see how well you know the topic. This can be useful for adult learners too!
It will take a bit of time and effort to set up these habits to start with, but they will really help you to improve your knowledge of the language and to retain new vocabulary and grammar concepts in the long term.
It’s December, so I feel fairly well justified in mentioning Christmas. If you are one of those people who has already bought and wrapped all the gifts by early September, then this blog may give you ideas ready for next year! Otherwise, for those who, like me, are not quite done yet (or haven’t even started), here are some ideas of gifts to help the linguist in your life. (PS – They are suitable for birthdays too!)
Story dice
Essentially, these are a set of cubes with a different picture on each side. They are great for encouraging young learners to tell stories and use their imagination. They can also be a super helpful prompt for adult learners who just need a few ideas to help them practise tenses, adjectives, story flow, question formation… or so many other aspects of language learning. I own two sets so that I have a wider range of pictures. One of them is featured in this video:
When we think of Bingo, do we think of large groups of seniors gathered in the village hall for a fundraiser, or maybe one of those larger halls owned by a company who offer nothing but bingo? It may not be your personal idea of fun, but a bingo set can be a great resource when it comes to practising numbers. You can play in the classic way, or alternatively try one of these:
Everyone picks three numbers which they keep secret. Take it in turns to say your number in your target language, then the others write it down. Who gets the most right?
Use the bingo tiles or balls to make longer numbers by placing them next to each other. Phone numbers and prices can both be done in this way. Then practise saying the number.
Books
If you are learning a language, then this probably makes you think of grammar workbooks, or textbooks. Why not give the gift of a real story book, with vocabulary and comprehension exercises included? Olly Richards and Richard Simcott are the authors of a set of French books including both beginner and intermediate levels. These come highly recommended by my students!
If the person you are buying for is a fluent speaker, then they may be delighted by a magazine on a topic of interest to them. Cookery, gardening, celebrity gossip – it’s all out there in their target language just the same as in English. Alternatively, if the recipient is a teenager, or a newer learner, then Mary Glasgow magazines are a great option. French, German, Spanish or English, there are a range of levels available with engaging content and some extra vocabulary help.
The jump from a good grade at GCSE to the higher expectations of A Level can be a large one. Some students feel unprepared for the expectations of independent study and don’t know where to start, let alone how to structure their time efficiently. If your school tell you to do 10 hours per week independent study on top of what they already set, where do you start? This is especially true with a foreign language where it can be hard to know what to look at or which techniques to use to maximise the return on your time investment. Here are some tips to help you structure your independent study time.
1. A good place to start is by going over your notes from the classes or lectures you have had that week. Don’t leave it too long, or you will forget what was said and may struggle to make sense of your notes.
Re-write your notes if you need to add more details and get busy with highlighter pens and underlining so that you can easily see the key points.
If you have time, write yourself a quiz now, using the information in your notes to form the basis of the questions. Put the quiz in a separate place for later use, so that you have a ready-made resource when it comes to revision time.
2. If you find that there was something you didn’t understand, ask NOW. Ask a friend, look it up in a book or online (make sure your resources are good quality ones!) or even go back to the teacher/lecturer and ask for clarification. Far better to do that within the fortnight, rather than waiting until exam time.
3. With specific regard to languages, it is important to get as much listening practice as possible. Use online resources such as news websites to find articles that you can listen to as well as read. Euronews (www.euronews.com), Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com) and 1jour1actu (www.1jour1actu.fr) are all good examples.
4. Make time to watch the film and/or read the book that you are studying. You are not just watching/reading for pleasure, but you should also be making notes about characters, themes, motivations. Try to get hold of the study guide for that particular work.
5. Vocabulary learning! You may not have a good vocabulary-learning routine in place yet, but this is something that you will need to make dedicated time for if you are to succeed in your exams. Learn the word, its gender, any other related words (the noun from the verb for example). Use active learning methods rather than just reading the paper, and test yourself regularly.
Language Learners can help with the question of independent study and note-taking skills through our Study Skills tutoring sessions. These classes are ideal for those making the jump between GCSE and A Level or for those who are facing exams this year and aren’t sure how to manage their time in order to fit in revision as well as essays and other commitments.
We can help students to establish a regular schedule of personal study on top of their academic and social commitments, as well as giving a range of tips on independent research, essay planning and exam technique.
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