On the Use of Translation Apps
The increasing popularity of using translation apps has aroused a heated discussion as to its benefits and drawbacks. Views on the topic vary greatly among people from different walks of life. Some believe that it is convenient for understanding foreign languages, but others believe that it does more harm than good.
On the one hand, using translation apps saves time. For example, when you are travelling in a foreign country and you don’t understand their language, using a translation app will help you to understand signs and to communicate with the locals. On the other hand, using translation apps too much may hinder one's second language acquisition, especially for students. Learning a new language requires hard work and patience. If students have easy access to translation apps, they will probably discard their own thinking and rely on the apps instead.
From my perspective, it is always cheerful to enjoy the convenience brought by technology development. However, in terms of language acquisition, we should realize that we can’t depend on an app in any circumstances and forever. Therefore, it is of greater significance in the long run to acquire a second language on our own.
