Abstract:

This paper reports upon a study carried out among 103 female translation students enrolled in a Computer Applications in Translation course. The study involved completing a questionnaire both at the beginning and at the end of the course. Data was also gathered through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The study aimed to assess the students’ degree of knowledge regarding Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tools and their opinion and attitudes towards using these tools. The results of the study were elaborated so as to investigate the relationship between the increase in the knowledge about CAT tools by the end of the course, and the change in students’ attitudes towards the discipline, which became much less biased and, in general, fairly positive. The paper suggests that the more the students’ translators became familiar with CAT tools, realizing its reasonable potential and current limitations, the less anxious they were of it. These findings promote the integration and introduction of technology in general, and (CAT) tools in particular, into translation curricula in order to enhance the skills of our students’ translators and maximize their productivity in today’s competitive market.

Keywords:

Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tools, Teaching, Students Translators, Technology, Saudi Arabia.