Lost in machine translation: The promises and pitfalls of machine translation for multilingual group work in global health education

• DOI: 10.1007/s44217-022-00004-z
• Publication Date: 2022-05-16T11:06:25Z
• Authors: David C. Hill; Christy Gombay; Otto Sanchez; Bethel Woappi; Andrea S. Romero ...; Stuart Davidson; Emma Z. L. Richar...
• Keywords: 4. Education; 05 social sciences; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology; Brief Communication; 0503 education; 3. Good health

The rapid adoption of online technologies to deliver postsecondary education amid the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted potential for learning, as well important equity gaps be addressed. For over ten years, McMaster University delivered graduate global health through a blended-learning approach. In partnership with universities in Netherlands, India, Thailand, Norway, Colombia, and Sudan, experts from across Consortium lectures students around world. 2020, two courses were piloted small groups Canada Colombia using machine translation supported by bilingual tutors. Students met weekly via video conferencing software, speaking English Spanish relying on software transcribe translate group members. Qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted students, tutors, instructors explore how artificial intelligence can harnessed integrate multilingual work into course offerings, challenging dominant use principal language instruction education. Findings highlight bridge divides, while also underscoring several key limitations currently available technology. Further research is needed investigate facilitating pathway more equitable inclusive learning environments.