The use of mental translation as a reading strategy by Spanish speakers as they read in English

Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which mental translation is employed in the reading of English texts by students whose native language is Spanish. A preliminary study was conducted using a short questionnaire and interview in which 39 students participated. Subjects who acknowledged using mental translation in the reading of English texts were identified and invited to participate in the subsequent in-depth study for which data was collected through in-depth interviews and think aloud protocols using a variety of texts. Fifteen undergraduate and graduate students whose native language is Spanish participated in this study. The data was analyzed by searching for trends and unusual cases in the use of mental translation.;Findings and conclusions. Five groups were identified, according to the manner of use of mental translation in the reading of English texts, including: (1) a fastidious, thorough and highly accurate word by word translation of the entire text; (2) a periodical and arduous translation of many phrases and sentences of the text, but lacking in accuracy; (3) a frugal, selective and seemingly strategic use of translation; (4) an almost unconscious, seemingly unintentional, and highly automatic use of translation of key words and cognates; and (5) unusual cases of the use of mental translation which did not neatly fit into any of the above groups. Various methods of using mental translation were identified and analyzed, such as the blank word technique, paraphrasing, using synonyms, and summarization. The findings indicate that ones L1 and the strategy of mental translation play a viable role in the reading process. Teachers of ESOL could instruct their students in the use of these strategies, according to their individual needs, in order to improve their reading comprehension. Also, the use of qualitative research methods, including interviews and think aloud protocols in which researcher and subject work together to investigate research questions proved to be effective instruments for unveiling difficult to obtain data.