by Lois Lawrence

Created on: June 14, 2009

Language teachers eager to alert their students to the pitfalls of using on-line language translation programs should begin the semester with the following exercise: On the first day of class, have each student write a half page paper in English describing the rules of their favorite sport to an audience completely unfamiliar with the sport..

That evening, as their first homework assignment, have the students search for a free on-line language program and use the program to translate their paper into French, and then back into English. Provide them with a list of popular programs and allow them to choose any one they like, as long as they report which one they have used. Word Lingo, Google Translate, Babel Fish, and others will all yield similar results.

The next day, have the students first read their original papers aloud to the class and then read the translation that the on-line program provided. Class will be fun because the results will sound something like this:

Original version

Basketball is a team sport played on an indoor wooden court having an elevated hoop or basket at each end. Two teams of five players try to score points by throwing a large ball through the hoop. Players may not run with the ball, but must bounce or dribble the ball as they move around the court or pass the ball to another player on their team. Getting the ball in the basket earns a team two or three points depending on from how far away the ball is thrown. Once a basket is scored, the ball goes to the other team who must move down the court to the other end to try to score their own points. While players may try to steal the ball from the other team or block shots, they may not hold or tackle other players. If they do, they will be charged with a foul and the other team will get an extra chance to score points without interference.

Translation through worldlingo.com

The basketball is a sport of team played on a court out of wooden of interior having a circle or a basket raised at each end. Two teams of five players try to mark points by throwing a large ball by the circle. The players can not run with the ball, but must rebound or stream the ball while they move around the court or pass the ball to another player on their team. Obtaining the ball in the basket gains with a team two or three points according to way in which the remote ball is thrown. Once a basket is marked, the ball goes to the other team which must lower the court at the other end to

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