Teaching Online and Offline: A Case Study on the Application of a Computer-aided, Discovery-driven Model of Translator Training in CityU’s Undergraduate Course of ‘Practical Translation’

This study starts with a brief introduction to a corpora-based online platform for English/Chinese bilingual teaching and (self-) learning (henceforth, the Platform) as well as an overview of the current undergraduate translation program in City University of Hong Kong. It then describes two versions of course design for ‘Practical Translation’ with different ways of incorporating the Platform into traditional classroom lectures and tutorials, observes the teaching and learning processes respectively directed by the two designs in two classes, and evaluates students’ online and in-class performance in the Platform-related assignments. A follow-up survey is also conducted to compare students’ responses from the classes which points to some possibilities of optimizing the use of computer-aided teaching platforms to enrich students’ learning experience. From the survey we may also identify certain aspects where the Platform can be strengthened and the application of the methodology be improved.