Delayed Reverse Translations

Students translate an English text into their L1, then in a later lesson translate it back into English and compare with the original.

Procedure

1. Towards the end of a lesson, organise students into pairs or small groups. Ask them to translate a text (or part of one) they have studied into their own language on a sheet of paper. Decide whether to allow dictionaries. Collect their translations when finished (or assign as homework).
2. In a subsequent lesson, ensure students cannot see the original English text. Distribute their L1 translations back to them and ask them to translate these back into English. Encourage them to mark anything they are unsure about with a question mark. This is collaborative work.
3. When students have finished their reverse translations, tell them to look at the original text and compare their version with it. Deal with any queries.

Tips

• Keep text length manageable: 40-80 words for A1-A2, 90-120 words for B1-B2
• Zero preparation required — works with any text the class has already studied
• Variation: extract key sentences or useful chunks instead of a full paragraph
• Variation: redistribute translations to different groups so they translate texts they did not write
• Variation: use two different texts, then regroup so pairs translate each other's work orally before checking the original
• Excellent self-study technique students can use independently at home