Pedagogical Translation as a Naturally-Occurring Cognitive and Linguistic Activity in Foreign Language Learning

The role of translation in foreign language teaching has always been at the core of heated controversies within the field of applied linguistics. This study aims to show how translation could be effectively and successfully applied to the field of language teaching. This study supports a fundamental principle according to which translation is a totally spontaneous activity and a cognitive process that cannot be avoided. It is therefore very important to teach students who learn a foreign language how to translate in order to help them avoid interference and control the transfer of knowledge from one language to another. Translation promotes the concept of bilingualism, and when used along with the skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing can become a valuable, comprehensive, effective and efficient tool for the teaching of any foreign language.