V Congreso internacional "Jornadas Andaluzas de Eslavística". 25º aniversario de la Sección departamental de Filología eslava de la Universidad de Granada

The presentation is based on Russian language teaching at Sapienza University and reflects on the place of the translation, which is traditionally part of the programme. Since translation exercises are not linked to the choice of using a grammar-translational method for language teaching (students have several classes where communicative approach is used), its value is justified with the general possibility of discovering the difficulties that translation brings with it. On the one side, translation from Russian to Italian, mainly of literary texts, is often a stimulating experience for students, reinforcing their awareness of Russian language peculiarities; on the other, it arises important questions that would need a separate place and time to be answered. In the absence of a separate translation studies programme, the teacher is led to integrate students’ notion on occasion and in the order that questions arise, having as main goal the one of presenting grammar issues. Still, the author’s conclusion is that the immense value of working on translation within a language class is that of putting students in front of aware choices, of detaching from rigid ideas about language, and finally of experimenting and taking responsibility, which is part of a student’s growing process that higher education should provide.