The rise of machine translation in teaching, assessment and beyond, with Klaus Mundt and Michael Groves

Today we delve, that’s right, delve, into the world of machine translation and its influence on education with Klaus Mundt and Michael Groves, who have been researching and writing on this topic since 2015. We explore the evolution of machine translation tools from Babel Fish to today's advanced AI models like ChatGPT. The discussion uncovers the ramifications for student voice, authenticity, academic integrity, and policy within educational contexts. Phil, Mike and Klaus discuss how these technologies are reshaping language learning processes, the ethical dilemmas they present, and the future of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Can we leverage technological advancements without sacrificing good language teaching? 

Further reading

Groves, M. and Mundt, K. (2015) Friend or foe? Google Translate in language for academic purposes. Journal of English for Specific Purposes 37, pp.112-121. DOI: 10.1016/j.esp.2014.09.001

Mundt, K. And Groves, M. (2016) A double-edged sword: the merits and the policy implications of Google Translate in higher education. European Journal Of Higher Education 6:4, pp. 387-401. DOI: 10.1080/21568235.2016.1172248 

Groves, M. and Mundt, K. (2021) ‘A ghostwriter in the machine? Attitudes of academic staff towards machine translation use in internationalised Higher Education. Journal of English for Academic Purposes. Vol. 50 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2021.100957

Klaus Mundt is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. He holds a PhD in Translation Studies, and his research interests focus on translation pedagogy and the use of machine translation in Higher Education. His main interest in teaching EAP on the ALACS programme is genre- and register-based language analysis and application, including subject-specific language. He is also involved in materials development and related studies such as genre and discourse analysis.

Michael Groves is Senior Lecturer at the Centre for English and Additional Languages at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. He has worked in the area of English Language Teaching for 30 years, and has specialised in English for Academic Purposes since 2007. He has worked in teaching and academic management roles in universities in the UK, China and Malaysia. He has also presented widely at conferences on a variety of topics. Mike’s research interests include student transition, with a particular interest in how students overcome “Academic Shock” when moving to a new place of study. He has also published on the use of online translation tools, and their impact on Internationalised Higher Education. In his free time, he enjoys running, cinema and wasting time on the Internet.