Effects of Strategy Instruction on the Translation of Vietnamese Culture-Specific Expressions and Cultural Awareness: A Quasi-Experimental Study with English-Major Students

Dong Trinh Duc *

* Correspondence: Dong Trinh Duc (email: ducdt@huflit.edu.vn)

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Received: 12 May 2026
Revised: 22 Jun 2026
Accepted: 14 Jul 2026
Published: 06 Nov 2026
DOI: 10.58810/vhujs.11.4.2026.1312
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How to Cite
Dong, D. T. (2026). Effects of Strategy Instruction on the Translation of Vietnamese Culture-Specific Expressions and Cultural Awareness: A Quasi-Experimental Study with English-Major Students. Journal of Science Van Hien University 11(4), 40-58.
Issue
Volume 11 - Issue 4 (2026)
Section
Education

Main Article Content

Abstract

Translating culture-specific items (CSIs) poses a challenge for English-major students because effective translation requires not only linguistic equivalence but also the preservation of culturally embedded meanings and values. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of explicit translation strategy instruction (TSI) on students' ability to translate Vietnamese CSIs and their cultural awareness. Eighty English-major students at a Vietnamese university participated in the study, with 40 assigned to an experimental group receiving six weeks of TSI in addition to the regular curriculum and 40 to a control group receiving regular instruction only. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, a Likert-scale questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative results revealed substantially greater gains in translation performance for the experimental group than for the control group (M = 20.28 vs. 6.87). After controlling for pre-test scores, ANCOVA confirmed a significant effect of TSI, F(1,77) = 164.57, p < .001, partial η² = .681. Questionnaire findings further indicated higher levels of cultural awareness (M = 4.01 vs. 3.57, d = 0.89) and confidence in translation and intercultural communication (M = 4.02 vs. 3.21, d = 1.83) among students receiving TSI. Qualitative findings revealed increased awareness of cultural dimensions in translation, greater confidence in handling CSIs, perceived usefulness of translation strategies, and stronger recognition of the translator's role as a cultural mediator. The findings suggest that explicit strategy instruction can effectively enhance both translation competence and intercultural awareness, highlighting its value in translation pedagogy and the promotion of Vietnamese cultural values in global communication.
Keywords: translation strategy instruction (TSI), culture-specific items (CSIs), translation competence, cultural awareness, Vietnamese-English Translation

Article Details

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