The crux of the issue isn’t really about how accurate the translation is, but whether the act of translation in the classroom is beneficial to the learning of language. Or is it just a shortcut to getting the information in the students’ heads as quickly as possible? It is good to take a pause and wonder if efficiency is always our friend. And we have to question if these well-intentioned acts circumvent getting to know our students deeply as a language learner as only a teacher can.

If teachers have knowledge of the science of reading AND if they know that language development is complex and non-linear, AND if they are aware of how primary language transfers to English, then teachers can be empowered to move flexibly and more fully respond to students’ needs.