學習第二語言的時候，使用翻譯真的不好嗎？

有許多的實證研究都證明第一語言的翻譯在第二語言學習有其價值。

Hulstijn,Hollander and Greidanus (1996)比較閱讀文章旁邊用學生的一語和二語的注釋(marginal gloss)，結果發現以學生的一語比較容易幫助學習，Laufer and Shmueli (1997)也呼應這樣的結果；Lotto and De Groot (1998) 則比較以第一語言和圖片作為示意的情況，結果發現以學生的一語比圖片的呈現，學生對於新詞記得更久(retention)；Grace (1998)則發現英語母語者學法語的時候，學習者認為在能夠有一語的情況下，比較容易確認正確的意思；Prince (1996)發現，透過一語翻譯的情況對於程度較差的學習者而言，比較容易能夠去回想(recall)起新詞。

這並不是說學習二語一定要依靠第一語言翻譯，第一語言之所以有價值，在於其能夠讓學習者將新知識和舊知識連結在一起，去激發已經穩固的詞彙網絡。學習新詞的時候，之所以要激發先前的知識的因為它以經是個連結綿密的資訊網，一但新的詞彙能夠整合到這個資訊網裡頭，只要有一點點連結，學習者就容易喚回詞彙。許多研究都支持這樣子的說法(Stahl, 1983; Stoller & Grabe, 1993; Martin,Martin & Ying, 2002; Schmitt and Schmitt (1995) 。

References

Grace, C. A. (1998). Retention of Word Meanings Inferred from Context and Sentence-Level Translations: Implications for the Design of Beginning-Level CALL Software. The Modern Language Journal, 82(4), 533-544.

Hulstijn, J. H., Hollander, M. & Greidanus, T. (1996). Incidental vocabulary learning by advanced foreign language students: The influence of marginal glosses, dictionary use, and reoccurrence of unknown words. The modern language journal, 80(3), 327-339.

Laufer, B. & Shmueli, K. (1997). Memorizing new words: Does teaching have anything to do with it?. RELC journal, 28(1), 89-108.

Lotto, L. & De Groot, A. (1998). Effects of learning method and word type on acquiring vocabulary in an unfamiliar language. Language learning, 48(1), 31-69.

Martin, M. A., Martin, S. H. & Ying, W. (2002). The Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy in the ESL Classroom. TESOL Journal, 11(2), 34-35.

Olsen, S. (1999). Errors and compensatory strategies: A study of grammar and vocabulary in texts written by Norwegian learners of English. System, 27(2), 191-205.

Prince, P. (1996). Second language vocabulary learning: The role of context versus translations as a function of proficiency. The modern language journal, 80(4), 478-493.

Schmitt, N. & Schmitt, D. (1995). Vocabulary notebooks: Theoretical underpinnings and practical suggestions. ELT journal, 49(2), 133-143.

Stahl, S. (1983). Differential word knowledge and reading comprehension. Journal of Reading Behavior, 15(4), 33-50.

Stoller, F. & Grabe, W. (1993). Implications for L2 vocabulary acquisition and instruction from L1 vocabulary research. In (), Second Language Reading and Vocabulary Learning. Ablex.

Tinkham, T. (1993). The effect of semantic clustering on the learning of second language vocabulary. System, 21(3), 371-380.

Tinkham, T. (1997). The effects of semantic and thematic clustering on the learning of second language vocabulary. Second language research, 13(2), 138-163.

Waring, R. (1997). The negative effects of learning words in semantic sets: A replication. System, 25(2), 261-274.