Google translate is a wonderful tool.Â
But it’s just that, a tool.
As anybody learning a second language or finding a document in a foreign language knows, Google translate has a wonderful capability of taking it from one language to your native language.
But it’s not a translator as a person, it’s a dictionary.
As an instructor in German I can immediately tell when a student uses Google translate to write a paper instead of writing it themselves.
Google translate struggles with the difference between formal and informal when it comes to foreign languages.
It’s not really a concept we have in English other than how we structure our sentences or change our tone.
But in languages like German, there’s a specific set of rules to tell you formality and many of them are centered around context.
Con of Google Translate: German sie, Sie, and sie
In German, there are separate words for when I’m talking to you as a classmate, or you as my teacher, or you as in you all.
Thus German has three different forms of Sie.
There’s sie as in she, 3rd person singular.
Sie as in you my professor, my authority figure, 2nd person singular formal.
Then there’s sie as in you all, a group of people, 3rd person plural.
Sie formal and sie the third person plural conjugate their verbs exactly the same.
The only way to tell those apart is context, which Google translate doesn’t always have.
How Should I use Google Translate as a Student?
Use it to Check for understanding
When you first start learning a new language as an adult, it can be overwhelming to try to read the same level of texts you’re used to. Google translate can be helpful to understand what you’re reading.
It can also help you make sure your writing makes sense. Just put your draft into Google translate to see if it says what you want.
Use it as a Quick dictionary
Google translate also works wonderfully as a dictionary for individual words.
Looking words up in a traditional dictionary can be time consuming and if you don’t have access to a dictionary then limiting.
Being able to look words up quickly (either in English or in German) can speed up any homework.
Google translate does struggle with verb conjugations between you singular and you plural.
Google translate is also helpful for determining noun gender, der, die or das. This is important for adjective endings and adverbs.
Use it for Spell check
Adding umlauts and other special symbols on the computer isn’t the smoothest process, so using Google translate to get those placed correctly is awesome.
It’s easier on a phone thankfully but most people don’t write papers on their phone.
Spelling words in a new language can be difficult at first so using Google translate to correct spelling is another good option.
Finally Google translate is very useful for pronunciation reminders and practice as they slow down the voice.
Is it Helpful for a Traveler?
Google Translate is 100% helpful when traveling!
Google Translate has other tools like speech recognition and translating photos. Both of which are incredibly valuable to travelers.
Neither is perfect for accuracy, yet.
But on a recent trip to Switzerland, it was helpful to check menu ingredients and
Final Reminders
Like a dictionary, Google Translate cannot read your mind.
You have to know what you are trying to say in order to have it be translated correctly. It’s not going to give you the missing pieces in your sentence.
It’s not going to give you the articles, like der, die, or das, of a noun.
Don’t get me wrong, Google translate is fantastic!
But remember it’s a tool not a teacher.
