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E9 G - Check automatic translations before using them

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Einleitung

Mini-Beschreibung: Vergleiche automatische Übersetzungen mit Deinem eigenen Sprachwissen. Prüfe meaning, register, grammar und level, bevor Du Formulierungen übernimmst. Du arbeitest auf G-Niveau in Klasse 9: kurze, klare Texte, starker Kontext, Kommunikation vor Perfektion und keine Vollübersetzung.

Kursrahmen: Alle Profile, Bewerbungsdaten und Tool-Ausgaben in den Aufgaben sind fiktiv. Aufnahmen sind freiwillig und bleiben privat; der Kurs verlangt keine ungefragten Uploads oder externen KI-Zugriffe auf Deine Dateien.

Media warm-up: Look at the icon. What could go wrong if you copy a translation without checking it? Say one idea in English: It could change the meaning. / It could sound too formal. / The grammar could be wrong.

Viewing task: Watch the BBC Learning English video about false friends once without subtitles. Write down two words you notice. Watch again with subtitles and check your ideas.

I can – Deine Lernziele

I can ...	Check
understand the main message of a short automatic translation.	☐
check meaning, register, grammar and level.	☐
ask when a translation is unclear.	☐
improve one or two weak parts instead of replacing my whole text.	☐
use a checked phrase again in speaking or writing.	☐
explain why a machine suggestion may not fit the context.	☐

Dein Lernweg

English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again

English first: Read or listen in English before you look for help.
Understand: Find the main message and key words.
Respond: Give a short answer with words you already know.
Ask: Ask for meaning, context or a better example.
Hint: Use a small hint, dictionary entry or one translation suggestion.
Improve: Change only what needs to be clearer or more correct.
Use again: Use the checked phrase in a new sentence.

Vorwissen

Quick start – 5 minutes

Meaning check: What is more important: a sentence that looks advanced or a sentence that says what you mean? Explain in one English sentence.
Register check: Which is better for a friend: Could you please provide me with further information? or Can you tell me more? Why?
Grammar check: Find the problem: Can you tell me when does the lesson start?

Mini-hint: In an indirect question, use statement word order: Can you tell me when the lesson starts?

Input: Automatic translation is a suggestion, not a final answer

Automatic translation uses software to translate text or speech from one language into another. The output can be useful, but it can also miss context, choose the wrong tone or produce language that does not sound like you.

Use this four-part check:

Check	Simple question	Example signal
Meaning	Does it say what I want to say?	A key idea changed or disappeared.
Register	Does it fit the situation and person?	A message to a friend sounds like a formal letter.
Grammar	Is the sentence structure correct and clear?	Word order, tense, article or preposition is wrong.
Level	Can I understand and use this language myself?	The output uses words or structures far above my usual English.

Rule: Never copy a phrase only because it sounds impressive. If you cannot explain it, simplify it.

Example 1: Meaning

German idea: Ich bekomme morgen eine Antwort.

A learner writes: I become an answer tomorrow.

Check: German bekommen and English become are false friends. The intended meaning is I will get an answer tomorrow.

Use again: I will get the results tomorrow.

Example 2: Register

Situation: You text a classmate.

Machine suggestion: I would be grateful if you could inform me about the homework.

This is understandable, but too formal for the situation.

Better for this context: Can you tell me what the homework is?

Use again: Can you tell me when we meet?

Example 3: Grammar

Machine suggestion: Can you tell me when does the meeting start?

Check the word order after Can you tell me ...

Better: Can you tell me when the meeting starts?

Accuracy focus: indirect question = question starter + statement word order.

Example 4: Level

Machine suggestion: I am profoundly dissatisfied with the aforementioned arrangement.

You understand only part of it. For an ordinary school message, use language you control: I am not happy with this plan.

Goal: Clear English that you can explain is better than complex English you cannot use independently.

Listening and Viewing

First listening – no transcript/subtitles: What is the video mainly about? Choose two key words you hear.

Second listening – subtitles on: Find one formal and one informal expression. Do not translate the whole video.

Respond: Say: For a school email, I would use ... because ...

Ask: If a phrase is unclear, use: What does ... mean here? or Is this formal or informal?

E9-G listening rule: Listen at a moderate pace, pause or replay when needed. If there are several speakers, focus first on who says what. Use subtitles or a transcript only after your first listening attempt.

Optional tech view

Viewing task: Watch only for the big idea: computer systems learn patterns from many examples. You do not need the technical details. After watching, complete: Automatic translation can help, but I still need to check ...

Reading

Read this short text first without a translator.

School exchange message

Hi Sam, our class is planning the welcome day for the exchange group. We want the message to be friendly and easy to understand. One automatic translation sounds very formal, so we will not copy it. We will check the meaning, choose simple words and ask a partner to read the final version. If a sentence is unclear, we will change it. We want the text to sound like us.

Reading tasks

Main idea: Write one English sentence: What is the class trying to do?
Evidence: Find two actions the class uses to check the text.
Transfer: Which of the four checks – meaning, register, grammar, level – is most visible in the text? Give one reason.

Kontextwortschatz

Word / phrase	Meaning in this course	Mini-example
meaning	the idea a sentence communicates	Check the meaning first.
register	how formal or informal language is	This register is too formal for a chat.
grammar	how words and structures work together	Check the word order.
level	language you can understand and use	This phrase is above my level.
context	the situation around a message	The context is a school email.
suggestion	one possible wording, not a final answer	The tool gives a suggestion.
false friend	a word that looks familiar but has a different meaning	become is a false friend for bekommen.
feedback	comments that help you improve	Use feedback to revise one sentence.
source text	the original text or idea	Read the source text carefully.
target text	the text you want to produce	Check the target text before using it.

Active media task: Cover the middle column. Explain five words in simple English or with an example.

Functional grammar: four useful checks

Word order in indirect questions

Direct: When does the lesson start?

Indirect: Can you tell me when the lesson starts?

Pattern: Can you tell me + question word + subject + verb?

Time and tense

If you talk about a plan, check the time word and tense together.

We are meeting tomorrow. is a clear planned arrangement.

Do not choose a tense only because a tool suggests it. Ask: When does this happen?

Countable and uncountable words

feedback is normally uncountable in English.

Use: Thanks for your feedback. Not: Thanks for a feedback.

Register and contractions

In a message to a friend, I'm, we're and can't are normal.

In a more formal school or job-related text, full forms can be useful, but formality depends on the whole situation. Do not make every sentence formal just because it is written.

Fehleranalyse: Find the problem, not just the answer

Machine output	Main problem	Better version
I become the information tomorrow.	meaning / false friend	I will get the information tomorrow.
Can you tell me where is the room?	grammar / word order	Can you tell me where the room is?
Dear Max, I hereby request your response.	register	Hi Max, can you reply?
I wish to ascertain whether participation is compulsory.	level	I want to know if I have to take part.
Thanks for a feedback.	grammar / countability	Thanks for your feedback.

Error routine: Name the problem → explain it simply → improve one part → use the improved pattern in a new sentence.

Aussprache und Fluency

Before watching: Say: When do I have to be there? at a natural speed.

After watching: Listen for linking. Repeat one short example privately or with a partner. Your goal is clear, understandable speech, not accent-free speech.

Fluency frame: I think it means ... → I'm not sure about ... → Could you explain ...? → I would change ... to ...

Recordings are optional. Keep recordings private unless you actively choose to share them in a safe school setting.

Speaking

Work with a partner. Student A reads the situation. Student B checks the machine suggestion.

Situation: You want to ask a classmate when to meet.

Suggestion: At what time shall our assembly commence?

Use this speaking loop:

Respond: It means ...
Check: The meaning is okay, but the register is too formal.
Ask: What would sound natural in a chat?
Improve: What time should we meet?
Use again: Make a new question for another school situation.

Challenge: Give an opinion with a reason: I would / would not use this sentence because ...

Writing

Choose one short task. Keep your own first version.

School email: Write 60–80 words to a teacher about a missed assignment. Use a clear greeting, reason, request and ending.
Short report: Write 70–90 words about how your group checked an automatic translation.
Opinion text: Write 70–90 words: Automatic translation is useful when ...
Job-related text: Write 60–80 words to ask about a fictional one-week work-experience placement. Use only fictional names and contact details.

Tool rule: If you use an automatic suggestion, copy only the phrase you want to check. Do not upload private messages, real application data or other people's personal information.

Keep your voice: Save your first version. Mark any machine-supported change. Be able to explain why you kept it.

Mediation – sinngemäß statt vollständig übersetzen

German source: Die AG trifft sich am Donnerstag nach der sechsten Stunde im Computerraum. Wer später kommt, sagt vorher kurz Bescheid.

Task: An English-speaking exchange student asks when and where the club meets. Give the important information in simple English. Do not translate every word.

Possible structure: The club meets ... If you are late, ...

Mediation check: Did you give the information the listener needs? Did you leave out details that are not needed?

Hilfestufen

Help level	What you get
Hint 1	Name only the category: meaning, register, grammar or level.
Hint 2	Use a sentence starter: The problem is ... because ...
Hint 3	Compare two options and choose the clearer one.
Hint 4	Use a model sentence, then change one detail for your own context.

Rule: Start with the smallest hint you need.

Feedback

Use the MRGL check for peer feedback:

Letter	Check	Helpful feedback
M	Meaning	I understand that you want to say ...
R	Register	This sounds too formal / informal for ...
G	Grammar	Check the word order after ...
L	Level	Can you explain this phrase in your own words?

Feedback should help the writer improve the writer's own text. Do not replace the whole text with a new version.

Safe and responsible tool use

Privacy: Do not enter private messages, real addresses, passwords, personal application data or other sensitive information into external tools.
Uploads: Do not upload recordings, photos or files unless the task requires it and you have permission. For this course, uploads are not required.
AI output: Check facts, sources and language suggestions. A confident answer can still be wrong or unsuitable.
Ownership: Keep your own draft and your own decisions visible.
Culture: Do not use stereotypes as shortcuts for people, countries or accents.
Communication: Being understandable matters more than sounding like a native speaker.

Transfer: Use the check in new situations

Apply MRGL to one new context:

Class chat: a quick message to a classmate.
School email: a polite question to a teacher.
Short presentation: one slide with two spoken sentences.
Work experience: a fictional enquiry about times or tasks.

Transfer question: Which part of MRGL changes most when the audience changes?

Can-do check

Can-do statement	Yes	Not yet
I can explain the main meaning of a translation suggestion.	☐	☐
I can notice when a sentence is too formal or informal.	☐	☐
I can check one important grammar point.	☐	☐
I can simplify language that is above my level.	☐	☐
I can ask for clarification in English.	☐	☐
I can reuse a checked phrase in a new context.	☐	☐

Next step: If two or more points are Not yet, repeat one example with Hint 2 or Hint 3.

Folgekurs

Continue with E9 G - Improve AI-supported English writing: keep your own draft, use targeted feedback and revise only what improves clarity, correctness and fit.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you check first in an automatic translation? (Does it say what I mean?) (!Does it use the longest words?) (!Does it sound like a native speaker?) (!Does it contain many adjectives?)

Which sentence fits a chat with a classmate best? (Can you tell me what the homework is?) (!I hereby request information concerning the homework.) (!I would be grateful for notification of the assigned work.) (!Kindly provide the required academic task.)

What is the main problem in I become an answer tomorrow? (Meaning) (!Punctuation) (!Spelling) (!Pronunciation)

Which sentence has correct word order? (Can you tell me when the lesson starts?) (!Can you tell me when does the lesson start?) (!Can you tell me when starts the lesson?) (!Can you tell me does when the lesson start?)

What does register mean in this course? (How formal or informal language is) (!How fast a person speaks) (!How long a text is) (!How many words a tool knows)

What should you do with a phrase you cannot explain? (Simplify it or check it before using it) (!Copy it because it sounds advanced) (!Use it in every text) (!Translate the whole text again)

Which phrase is correct? (Thanks for your feedback.) (!Thanks for a feedback.) (!Thanks for an feedback.) (!Thanks for feedbacks.)

What is a good first step when listening to a video? (Listen for the main idea before using subtitles) (!Translate every word immediately) (!Read the full transcript first) (!Stop after the first unknown word)

What is good peer feedback? (Check one problem and explain how to improve it) (!Replace the writer's whole text) (!Make every sentence more difficult) (!Ignore the context)

What is the main goal for pronunciation in this course? (Be clear and understandable) (!Copy one exact accent) (!Speak as fast as possible) (!Avoid every pause)

Memory

meaning	intended idea
register	formal or informal style
grammar	correct language structure
level	language you can understand and use
context	situation around a message
false friend	familiar-looking word with a different meaning
feedback	comments that help you improve

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Meaning	Does the sentence say the intended idea?
Register	Does the language fit the person and situation?
Grammar	Is the sentence structure correct and clear?
Level	Can the learner understand and use the wording?
Context	What situation is the message used in?

...

Kreuzworträtsel

meaning	What should stay correct when you use an automatic translation?
register	What tells you whether language is formal or informal?
grammar	What includes word order and sentence structure?
context	What helps you decide whether a phrase fits the situation?
feedback	What can help you improve your own draft?
fluency	What means speaking with a natural flow while staying understandable?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Translation detective: Find two short automatic translation suggestions from teacher-provided, non-private examples. Mark meaning, register, grammar or level.
Friendly or formal: Create four short English messages and sort them into friend, teacher or work-experience contexts.
False friend card: Design a small learning card for one false friend such as become/bekommen or eventually/eventuell with one safe example.
Speak and check: Read one improved sentence aloud to a partner and ask whether it is clear.

Standard

MRGL comparison: Compare two different automatic suggestions for the same short source idea and explain which parts fit the context better without ranking the tools.
School email revision: Write a 70-word email, check one suggested phrase with MRGL and document the change.
Mini interview: Ask three classmates which check they use first when a translation looks strange. Summarise the answers without names.
Listening response: Rewatch one course video and record or present a 45-second private summary using three key words from the course.

Schwer

Error workshop: Create five fictional machine-translation errors and write a short answer key that explains the problem category.
Context switch: Rewrite the same core message for a friend, a teacher and a fictional work-experience contact. Explain what changed in register.
Mediation challenge: Prepare a one-minute spoken mediation from a short teacher-provided German notice into simple English. Do not translate every sentence.
Check protocol: Design a one-page MRGL checklist for your class and test it on a fictional text. Improve the checklist after peer feedback.

Lernkontrolle

Context decision: You receive a formal automatic suggestion for a class chat. Explain which parts you would keep, simplify or replace and why.
Meaning transfer: A translated sentence is grammatically correct but changes the intended message. Explain why grammar alone is not enough and create a clearer version.
Register transfer: Turn one simple request into a version for a friend and a version for a teacher. Explain two differences.
Grammar in use: Create two indirect questions for a school situation and explain the word order.
Level decision: Choose one difficult machine-generated sentence, simplify it and show that the main meaning stays the same.
Responsible use: Describe a safe workflow for checking a tool suggestion without uploading private data or losing your own original text.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis ist wichtig:

Meaning: Du kannst zeigen, dass Deine endgültige Formulierung die beabsichtigte Aussage trifft.
Register: Du kannst begründen, warum die Sprache zur Situation und zum Adressaten passt.
Grammar: Du kannst mindestens einen zentralen Grammatikpunkt gezielt prüfen und verbessern.
Level: Du kannst verwendete Formulierungen selbst erklären und in einem neuen Satz benutzen.
Feedback: Du kannst hilfreiches Feedback geben und eine eigene Überarbeitung nachvollziehbar machen.
Transfer: Du kannst MRGL in einer neuen Kommunikationssituation anwenden.
Selbstständigkeit: Du bewahrst Deine eigene Textfassung und kennzeichnest unterstützte Änderungen.
Datenschutz: Du arbeitest mit fiktiven Daten und benötigst keine öffentlichen Uploads.

OERs zum Thema

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Der Kurs verbindet kritisches Prüfen automatischer Übersetzungen mit Hörverstehen, Leseverstehen, Sprechen, Schreiben, Sprachmittlung, funktionaler Grammatik, Wortschatz und sicherer Medienkompetenz.

E9 G - Check automatic translations before using them

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