End of semester reflection
This is an individual project. In around 500 words, I would like you to reflect on the high points of the class, the things you learned about translation as we have done it, and as it has been done in the past. Please do this in blog format, using the first person. Please be as specific as possible referring to texts we examined or exercises we did.
Some guiding questions (you do not need to answer all of these). Please do not answer as a list, but in reflective essay format.
- What did you think you would be doing before you took this class? How does that look different now at the end of the semester?
- What was the most surprising thing we did? the most challenging? the easiest? the most boring?
- What did you learn about Arabic over the course of the semester? what did you learn about English?
- How do you think you can you improve both of your languages?
- In your opinion, does the translator from Arabic to English have any special responsibility?
- A common theme is that Arabic is “untranslatable.” What do you think of this after taking this course?
- Which theorist did you identify with the most?
- What did you learn about the audience of your translation?
- What was your favorite text? your least favorite text? why? (Jaber, Alf Leila w Leila, Berrada, Al-Gezira, one of the smaller texts)
- What was the best lesson learned in ENGL 233?
- How do you think that completing an introductory course in translation will help you in your life/career?