Abstract:

At the end of each series of workshops of WeTranslate initiative (WTI), blind and visually impaired trainees have to pass test where their performance is assessed and issued a competency report by the volunteering trainers who have good experience in translation. This study examines the impact of wash back effects of the final test and the study material on the performances of trainees and trainers (participants) enrolled in the WTI series. This also entails investigating if the performances (learning strategies) of the students and trainers are in line with the objectives of the WTI. For this purpose, weekly interviews with trainers and separate interviews with trainees were held throughout the duration of the training. Interviews were recorded and analyzed during and after the conclusion of the workshops. Results showed that despite the Alternative Translation Solution and Incremental Feedback (ATSIF) being the core of the study material content administration and assessment strategy, trainers were influenced by expectations of the final competency test. The competency test clearly had a negative wash back effect on the performances of both trainers and trainees, while it had a positive impact on trainees’ strategy of alternative translation solutions (ATS) towards the end of the workshop series. The wash back effect has been given little attention by translation researchers, hence any contribution to this end can be useful for platforms providing translation training, teachers as well as designers of translation curriculum. Keyword: translation training, wash back effect, ATSIF, WTI.