Translation Competence for Non-Native English Speakers: Philosophical Foundations to Practical Applications in the Digital Age: A Lecture Note [Even Semester 2025/2026]

This lecture note provides a comprehensive examination of English translation competence among students in English Education Study Programs who are non-native speakers of English. It begins with philosophical foundations of translation, addressing ontological, epistemological, and axiological dimensions, and then moves to theoretical frameworks in translation studies. These frameworks include theories of equivalence, functional approaches, discourse-oriented perspectives, as well as systems and cultural studies. The note then presents, in a clear hierarchical manner, the key concepts, research methodologies, methods, strategies, techniques, tactics, and translation models, all illustrated with authentic examples and cases. The third part applies this conceptual framework to the specific context of nonnative translators, drawing on findings from 24 empirical studies documented in previous research metadata. The discussion explores the myth of the ideal translator, the distinctive challenges faced by non-native translators, and the characteristic cognitive processes involved in their translation work. It also highlights the strengths of non-native translators as prospective language educators, the role of digital literacy in the era of artificial intelligence, the analysis of “translationese” and translation quality, the design of adaptive translation pedagogy, and the use of translation as a tool for language learning. The entire discussion is supported by authentic examples from a wide range of text types and translation situations and is grounded in current, reliable scientific sources.