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Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October

Copyright (c) 2025 Atiqullah Mashal Mashal, Khalilullah Sarwari, Habibullah Popal

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

The Effectiveness of Using Translation as a Learning Strategy in the Afghan EFL Context

https://doi.org/10.62810/jssh.v2i4.133
Atiqullah Mashal
Kandahar University, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Kandahar, AF
Khalilullah Sarwari
Kandahar University, Department of Pashto Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Kandahar, Af
Habibullah Popal
Kandahar University, Department of Pashto Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Kandahar, AF

Corresponding Author(s) : Atiqullah Mashal

atiqullahmashal@gmail.com

Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October

Abstract

The usefulness of translation as a learning strategy in the EFL context remains a subject of ongoing academic debate, particularly in relation to meaningful learning and language proficiency. There are two opposing ideas: some practitioners reject its use because it negatively affects English skills, while others insist on using translation because it is efficient for comprehension and for a better understanding of EFL content. In most foreign contexts, students have been found to use it extensively for comprehension. However, little research attention has been paid to the EFL context of Afghanistan to examine the effects of using this strategy. This study explores the attitudes and perceptions of English major students to determine the effectiveness of translation as a learning strategy. A quantitative research design was employed to assess the efficiency of this strategy. A 5-point Likert-scale survey was used to collect data. A total of 132 Afghan undergraduate students majoring in English literature at Kandahar University participated in the study. For statistical analysis, IBM SPSS Statistics 2027 was used to obtain accurate results. Findings identified translation as a supportive strategy for addressing students’ needs, reducing cognitive load, enhancing comprehension, aiding language skills, and promoting meaningful learning. These insights highlight the importance of translation but suggest caution in its use, as overuse limits learners' ability to build their language proficiency. Future researchers are encouraged to explore the pedagogical implications of translation as a learning strategy across diverse EFL contexts, considering variables such as cultural backgrounds, proficiency levels, and instructional strategies for its practical use.

Keywords

EFL Classes Effectiveness Translation Students’ Perceptions Learning Strategy Language Skills
Mashal, A., Sarwari, K., & Popal, H. (2025). The Effectiveness of Using Translation as a Learning Strategy in the Afghan EFL Context. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(4), 208–226. https://doi.org/10.62810/jssh.v2i4.133
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Author biographies is not available.
Received 2025-07-08
Accepted 2025-10-30
Published 2025-10-31
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