EFL LEARNERS’ TRANSLATION STRATEGIES IN NARRATIVE TEXTS: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF READINGAND MEANING CONSTRUCTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47178/gwpmgp13Keywords:
translation strategies, narrative text, English-Indonesian translation, qualitative study, EFL studentsAbstract
Translation plays an important role in helping EFL students comprehend English texts; however, many junior high school students still experience difficulties in translating narrative texts accurately due to linguistic and contextual challenges. This study aimed to identify the translation strategies used by eighth-grade students in translating English narrative texts into Indonesian and to explore the challenges they encountered and the references they used during the translation process. This study employed a descriptive qualitative research design involving 52 eighth-grade students of MTs Al-Hidayah, Bitung Jaya. Data were collected through observation, translation tasks, and semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s Interactive Model, consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings revealed that students employed four translation strategies: literal translation, idiomatic translation, addition, and omission. Literal translation and addition were the most frequently used strategies (26 occurrences each), followed by idiomatic translation (25) and omission (10). Students also encountered challenges related to limited vocabulary, grammatical confusion, and sentence construction, while relying on dictionaries, Google Translate, AI-based applications, teachers, and peers to support their translation process. These findings contribute to translation education at the junior high school level by providing insights into students’ translation practices and may assist English teachers in designing more effective instructional strategies to improve students’ translation competence, vocabulary mastery, and grammatical awareness.
References
Adiningrat, N., Albina, M., Padila, W., & Tanjung, E. R. (2025). Penelitian Deskriptif Dalam Pendidikan. Jurnal Intelek Dan Cendikiawan Nusantara, vol.2 no.3(Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): JUNI-JULI 2025).
Anisah, L., & Basri, L. O. M. I. H. (2023). EFL Students’ Translation Strategy of Narrative Text of English Language Education Study Program. ELT WORLDWIDE Journal of English Language Teaching, 10 (1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26858/eltww.v10i1.38323
Edelia, A. D., & Maharsi, I. (2022). A Survey on Translation as a Learning Strategy by EFL Higher Education Students in English Learning. Pedagogy : Journal of English Language Teaching, 10(2), 111. https://doi.org/10.32332/joelt.v10i2.4809
Fahlefi, M. R., & Ummah, N. (2024). Strategi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab pada Mahasiswa Pendidikan Islam Anak Usia Dini Semester I Institut KH. Abdul Chalim. Jurnal Bara Aji, vol.2 no.1.
Faridah, F., Fatmawati, R., Luthfiyati, D., & Ulya, K. N. (2023). AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS TRANSLATION NARATIVE TEXT USING GOOGLE TRANSLATE. TELL-US JOURNAL, 9(2), 396–412. https://doi.org/10.22202/tus.2023.v9i2.6846
Hadi, M. Z. P., Yuliasri, I., Pratama, H., & Yuliati, Y. (2025). Exploring Translation Techniques and Ideological Tendencies in AI-Assisted English Indonesian Texts by EFL Learners. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(10), 85–105. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.10.4
Hidayanti, G., Sabarun, & Widiastuty, H. (2023). Translation Strategies Used by EFL Learners in Translating Narrative Text. PROJECT Professional Journal of English Education, 6, 6.
Huang, W.-C. (2024). Influence of enhanced self-efficacy on English performance through English medium instruction: A mixed methods research. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 9, 32. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00255-3
Ismayati, H., Jannah, M., & Kembarent, F. R. W. (2024). Analysis of the Use of Translation as a Learning Strategy in English. Sintaksis Publikasi Para Ahli Bahasa Dan Sastra Inggris, 2, 4. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61132/sintaksis.v2i4.812
Jupri, J., Rahman, A., Hassan, A. J., & Manu, S. M. T. (2024). EFL Learners’ Translation Strategies: A Semantic Bridge in Two Languages. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(3), 1298. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i3.9081
Lisepung, C. D. (2022). Analysis on Students’ English-Indonesian Translation Method of Descriptive Text. Quaerite Veritatem: Jurnal Pendidikan, vol 2 no.1. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53842/qvj.v2i1.18
Memushaj, N., & Sogutlu, E. (2025). The Use of Translation as a Support Strategy in Reading Comprehension. IJIRME Journal, 04(09). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58806/ijirme.2025.v4i9n03
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook (2nd ed.). Sage Publication.
Pakaja, M., Lihawa, K., Napu, N., & Bouti, S. (2024). Study of Linguistics Aspect in Translation of English Education Department. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM), 12(12), 3836–3846. https://doi.org/10.18535/ijsrm/v12i12.el06
Rizki, L. T., Iman, J. N., & Surayatik, D. (2024). Analysis of Students’ Difficulties in Translating Descriptive Text from Indonesian into English. JELL (Journal of English Language and Literature) STIBA-IEC Jakarta, vol.9 no.1. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37110/jell.v9i01.200
Rosalia, H. (2025). Students’ Translation Strategies in Translating General English Texts. Celebes Journal of Language Studies, 5 no.2, 277–290.
Rosyadi, W. F., Septyan, A. D., & Rohmana, W. I. M. (2023). Learning English Using Narative Text at Junor High School. Channing: Journal of English Language Education and Literature, 8 no.1, 1–4.
Rosyidy, L., Sutopo, A., & Haryanti, D. (2025). Indonesian EFL Learners’ Perceptions of ChatGPT’s Translation Readability in Translating English Literary Text. Tell : Teaching of English Language and Literature Journal, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.30651/tell.v13i2.25641
Shiddiq, S. M., Oktaviani, L., Herwiana, S., & Suryanovika, C. (2023). Lexical and grammatical errors analysis on Indonesian-English translation of EFL students in Indonesia. JEES (Journal of English Educators Society), 8(1). https://doi.org/10.21070/jees.v8i1.1674
Siahaan, U. K., Siahaan, S., & Sinurat, B. (2025). Studnets’ Difficulties in Translating Narrative Text at Grade Eight in SMP Swasta Cinta Rakyat 2 Pematangsiantar. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10, 04.
Sinambela, E., Sipayung, R. W., Herman, H., Purba, R., Fatmawati, E., Ngongo, M., & Manurung, L. W. (2024). Investigating translation strategies used by students in translating metaphors from English into Indonesian: A case study on translation. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.58256/m8qeqf93
Sukri, A., Abdullah, & Mustikawati, Y. (2025). The Roles of Teacher in Facilitating English Learning for the First Year Students with Low Basic English Proficiency in Integrated Skills at SMP IT Modern Al-Aksi Lonrong. IJLEL International Journal Language, Education, and Literation, (Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October).
Suri, E. M., Marzona, Y., & Ningsih, R. P. (2023). An Analysis of Students’ Ability in Identifying Generic Structure of Narrative Text at Second Grade of SMA Ekasakti Padang. EESJ EKASAKTI EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL, 1, no 1.
Tasyakurna, A., Andhini, A., & Pratama, E. (2023). Techniques Used by Students in Translating Report Text from Indonesian into English. UNNES, vol.13 no.4.
