R ethinking Translation in the EFL Classroom: Past, Present, and Pedagogical Potential Long regarded as both indispensable and controversial, translation has played a complex role in the teaching of foreign languages. From it's starring role in the Grammar Translation Method (GMT) to it's near banishment in the era of the communicative approach, the perception of translation in the classroom has evolved alongside changing educational paradigms. By bridging historical insights with modern technological realities, this book explores the resurgence of pedagogical translation in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education-whether through traditional methods, natural translanguaging, or the use of online machine translation (OMT) tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Drawing on classroom-based research and educator perspectives from Ecuadorian universities, this book offers critical reflections on how translation can both support and challenge language learning goals. Topics include ongoing controversies, the evolution of OMT, and implications for academic integrity and teaching practice. Ideal for language educators, researchers, and teacher trainers, this book invites readers to reconsider translation not as a taboo, but as a dynamic, adaptable, and potentially transformative tool in the modern EFL classroom.
