Iranian EFL university learners and lecturers’ attitude towards translation as a tool in reading comprehension considering background variables of age, major and years of experience

Figures & data

Table 1. T-test for learners’ attitudes by age

	Age	N	Mean	Std. deviation	t	df	sig
Totalscore	Under 22	46	53.5217	9.95934	2.004	48	.051
	Over 22	4	43.0000	11.63329

Table 2. T-test for learners’ attitudes by major

	Major	N	Mean	Std. deviation	t	df	sig
Total score	Under grad.	28	54.3214	11.40193	1.270	48	.210
	grad.	22	50.5909	8.71594

Table 3. T-test for lecturers’ attitudes by age

	Age	N	Mean	Std. deviation	t	df	sig
Total score	Under 40	3	56.6667	12.85820	1.018	7	.34
	Over 40	6	50.5000	6.05805

Table 4. T-test for lecturers’ attitudes by years of professional experience

	Experience	N	Mean	Std. deviation	t	df	sig
Total score	Under 10	4	49.2500	6.18466	1.038	7	.334
	Over 10	5	55.2000	9.95992

Figure 1. Lecturers’ attitudes about the effects of L1 use on the promotion of reading comprehension.

Figure 2. Lecturers’ attitudes about the use of L1 in learners’ achievement in reading comprehension.

Table

Name	نام
Gender	جنسیت
Age	سن
Major	رشته تحصیلی

Table

کاملا” مخالفم Strongly disagree	مخالفم Disagree	نظري ندارم Undecided	موافقم Agree	کاملا موافقم Strongly agree	سوالات Questions	ر
					من به ترجمه يعني استفاده ازفارسي براي يادگيري انگليسي علاقه مندم. I am interested in translation, that is, using Persian for learning English.	1
					كلاسهاي ترجمه لذت بخش و مفيد هستند. Translation classes are useful and enjoyable.	2
					با استفاده از ترجمه, من در يادگيري متون انگليسي پيشرفت بيشتري ميكنم. Using translation, I made progress in learning English texts.	3
					زمانيكه ميخواهم به سوالات درك مطب پاسخ دهم, ترجمه معلم, اعتماد به نفسم را بالا ميبرد. While answering reading comprehension questions, my teacher’s translation increases my self-confidence.	4
					استفاده معلم از زبان اول باعث مي شود كه من با فرهنگ زبان دوم آشنا شوم. When my teacher uses first language (Persian), I will be familiar with the culture of people of L2 (English).	5
					استفاده از ترجمه فارسي حين خواندن متون انگليسي به من كمك ميكند كه بعدامحتواي متون را بهتر به ياد آورم. The use of Persian translation while reading English texts helps me to better remember reading comprehension texts later.	6
					فعاليتهاي ترجمه به عنوان يك استراتژي يادگيري مناسب در كلاس هاي زبان محسوب ميشود. Translation activities are among appropriate learning strategies in an English class.	7
					وقتي از من خواسته ميشود كه مستقيما به انگليسي فكر كنم تحت فشار قرار ميگيرم. When I am asked to directly think in English, I feel anxious.	8
کاملا” مخالفم Strongly disagree	مخالفم Disagree	نظري ندارم Undecided	موافقم Agree	کاملا موافقم Strongly agree	سوالات Questions	ر
					ترجمه بخش هاي مهم يك متن چه به صورت شفاهي و چه به صورت مكتوب اثر مثبتي روي درك مطب من ميگذارد. Translation of important parts of a text either oral or written can have a positive effect on my reading comprehension.	9
					با استفاده گاه و بيگاه از زبان فارسي نظرمثبتي در مورد يادگيري انگليسي پيدا خواهم كرد. Using Persian frequently, I will have a positive idea regarding learning English.	10
					در برخي مراحل بدون ترجمه نميتوانم زبان انگليسي را فرا بگيرم. In some stages, I can’t learn English without translation to Persian.	11
					استفاده معلم اززبان فارسي به من كمك مي كند كه زبانشناسي و نشانه هاي فراكلامي را ياد بگيرم. The use of teacher of Persian language helps me learn Linguistics and meta-discourse markers.	12
					درتمام مهارتهاي زباني بايد از ترجمه استفاده كرد. In all language skills, translation should be used.	13
					ترجمه در فهم لغات و اصطلاحات انگليسي به من كمك ميكند. Translation helps me in comprehending lexical items and English expressions.	14
					وقتي فكر كردن به انگليسي برايم سخت است تمايل دارم از فارسي براي فهم آن استفاده كنم. When thinking in English is difficult to me, I tend to use Persian for more comprehension.	15

Table

QN	Questions	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
1	Using L1 is inevitable in teaching reading texts.
2	Translation can be used as a teaching/learning strategy in teaching reading texts.
3	3. The use of Persian in teaching reading texts may interfere with learner’s ability to learn English well.
4	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts facilitates learner’s comprehension.
5	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts increases learner’s achievement in reading comprehension tests.
6	If students receive translation of the gist in Persian after reading the passage, it has positive effect on their comprehension.
7	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts enhances learners’ involvement in learning process.
8	Translation of the text can be used for conveying meaning i.e. checking the meaning of new words, idioms and expressions and sentences in a text.
9	L1 can be used in teaching reading comprehension texts to save class time.
10	L1 can help students to check whether their comprehension is correct or not.
11	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts changes the environment of the classes from teacher dominant to student centered.
12	Translating reading comprehension texts increases interaction between teacher and learners.
13	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts creates non-threatening environment in the classroom.
14	Using L1 increases students’ self confidence in answering comprehension questions.
15	Using L1 in teaching reading comprehension texts enhances student’s motivation and interest for learning.