ICT for writing and translation skills : the example of the SSLMIT (University of Bologna, Forli)

Most of the research on ICT uses for teaching/learning has focused either on the cognitive and linguistic dimension, or on cultural aspects. And in both cases, it generally targets the effect of the use of ICT on learners’ linguistic competence. Moreover, data has usually been gathered from laboratory tests rather than being built up from direct observation in the classroom. The work presented in this thesis is mainly aimed at defending the idea that studies and research should be more interested in bringing about modifications in the teaching/learning praxis. With regard to cognitive effects, not only have learning strategies been identified and classified but also textual typologies applied to language learning and translation. Nonetheless, the proliferation of typologies and metalanguage may be a problem in a pedagogical context. This is why our research aims to defend a teaching/learning integrated approach of writing and translating skills assisted by technological instruments. In the first four chapters, we present the theoretical frame of our research. First, we underline the interdisciplinarity of foreign language and translation teaching. Then, in the second chapter, we discuss the cognitive approach. In the third chapter, we focus on the definitions and models of writing and translation skills. In the fourth chapter, we explore the ICT field of research and particularly the use of the computer to optimize both kinds of competence. The fifth chapter is dedicated to data protocols and analysis, which is based on our research carried out with the participation of the teachers and students of the French section of the SSLMIT of Forli (University of Bologna). We conclude with presenting our analysis of the results of the surveys and classroom observation used to bring out teachers’ and learners’ activity and praxis to enforce their writing and translating skills.