Online Translation Use in Spanish as a Foreign Language Essay Writing: Effects on Fluency, Complexity and Accuracy

Abstract

This study examines computer-based essay writing in Spanish as a foreign language among two groups of pupils in Sweden (n=32+25, aged 17-18), one group with Internet access, one without. The article focusses on effects of online translation (OT) on writing fluency, and on grammatical and lexical complexity and accuracy. Small but statistically significant effects were found. Effects on fluency and complexity, but not accuracy, can to some extent be explained by the pupils' proficiency level, rather than by the use of OT. Pupils using OT made fewer mistakes regarding orthography and article/noun/adjective agreement, but more mistakes regarding syntax and verb morphology. This contradicts the participants' belief that OT helped them improving syntax and verb inflection. Better language proficiency is pointed out as necessary to be able to make good use of OT. Further research on longitudinal effects of OT on pupils’ learning of vocabulary and grammatical accuracy are recommended.