The The Use of Google Translate in Indonesian Tertiary Writing

Abstract

With extensive technology inherent in all spheres of language teaching and learning, in the last 10 years, Google Translate has played a significant and parallel role in assisting learners with various academic tasks. With its far-reaching presence, questions arise and there are looming concerns on its use in academic work. This study thus probes the use of Google Translate among tertiary students in Indonesia when writing their research proposal. The central focus of the analysis is to investigate the objectives of the use and specific ways of looking up words, sentences or even paragraphs. Taking up from where previous studies have left on the pros and cons of the application, this study looks for unique patterns in the use and support of Google Translate in students’ writing process. To address these aims, a qualitative research approach was used to explore in-depth perceptions and opinions of four female students based on their instructor’s analysis of their research proposals, namely, in chapter one where ideas and conceptual terms were evidently present. Results suggest that students use Google Translate at different levels for translation of words, sentences and paragraphs. However, the trends of use vary among different types of search. Some students experienced reduced dependence on Google Translate from the beginning to end of the semester, while others remained heavily reliant till the end of proposal writing. The study implies the viable role of Google Translate in ESL writing and indubitably supports its complementary role in research, education and scholarship in academia.