Training in the application of translation strategies for undergraduate scientific translation students

A research project was recently carried out consisting of the following stages: 1. Finding out what was previously known or hypothesised about the role of strategies in the translation process by reviewing the relevant literature. 2. Deciding on an operative definition of translation strategies. 3. Selecting 3 types of problems to give experimental training int he application of strategies to solve them. 4. Designing a theoretically optimal course, by considering relevant pedagogical literature, to give pre-service training in the application of these strategies. 5. Carrying out an empirical study to observe, measure and analyse the effects of such a course. A full report on this study is to be found in Investigating Translation (John Benjamins, 1999). On conclusion of the study, it was found that the experimental course had been perceived as satisfactory by all the participants, and clearly increased the frequency and effectiveness of trainees' application of target strategies. It was also found that this had significantly improved the quality fo target texts, according to external raters. Subsequently, the teacher of this experimental course has spontaneously continued to include this type of training in her regular work. Other colleagues have also undertaken similar experiences and expressed their positive evaluation of them. The aim of this present article is to report more fully on the methodology which was followed in the experimental course. This could provide a useful starting point for discussion for those teachers who would like to experiment with this type of training in their own classes.