A methodology for formative assessment: feedback tools in the translation classroom

• Autorzy: Paulina Pietrzak

Abstrakty

EN

Assessment in translator education can sometimes be regarded as a necessary evil, either by trainees who tend to dislike evaluations of their competence and performance or by trainers who are obliged to measure and judge these elusive qualities. This authoritative role imposed on the translation teacher by various institutional regulations interferes with the image of the teacher as a guide postulated by the idea of empowerment (Kiraly 2000, 2005), since it might affect the distribution of power and control in the translation classroom. Grades assigned to translation assessment can hardly reflect the actual quality of the trainee translator’s work, let alone help them improve the necessary skills that translation competence entails. However, when accompanied by constructive feedback, the necessary evil cannot only be justified but also excused or even fostered. The author advocates transforming training-based assessment into assessment-based training. In as much as the translation teacher organises, controls and evaluates the students’ performance, a premise of equal importance is that assessment can also have a measurable effect on student competence development. As Fowler (2007: 254) claims, “the competence development in translators mainly derives from formative assessment”. With this presupposition in mind, the article will introduce the basic tenets of formative assessment with a close look given to its features and principles that should be observed with the aim of giving objective and effective feedback. Then, the roles of the trainer and the trainee will be discussed in relation to the distribution of power and control in the translation classroom and the position of the evaluator and the evaluee. The article will give an example of instrument that the evaluee needs in order to become the evaluator and, finally, it will demonstrate a methodology for formative assessment based on a few formative feedback techniques.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

formative assessment; feedback; evaluator; evaluee; translator training

• Wydawca: Polska Akademia Nauk
• Czasopismo: Kwartalnik Neofilologiczny
• Rocznik: 2017
• Numer: 1
• Strony: 66-80

Daty

wydano

2017

Twórcy

autor

Paulina Pietrzak

Identyfikatory

Biblioteka Nauki

2081148