Analysis Of The Perception Of German Language Students Of UHKBPNP Towards The Use Of Google Translate

Abstract

This study aims to determine and analyze the perceptions of students of the German Language Education Study Program at HKBP Nommensen University, Pematangsiantar (UHKBPNP) regarding the use of Google Translate in learning German. The background of this study is based on the increasing use of automatic translation applications, especially Google Translate, by students as a tool to help understand foreign language texts. Although practical and easily accessible, the use of Google Translate still gives rise to various perceptions regarding its accuracy, advantages, and disadvantages in the context of learning German. This study uses a mixed methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were obtained through a closed questionnaire with a five-level Likert scale, while qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews to strengthen the findings. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with a total of 45 respondents from the German Language Education Study Program at HKBPNP who have or are currently taking translation courses and have experience using Google Translate. Data analysis was carried out descriptively quantitatively and qualitatively with reference to Ulric Neisser's Cognitive Psychology theory (1967) which explains that perceptions are formed through the interaction between experience and environmental stimuli. The results show that in general students have a positive perception of the use of Google Translate. Most respondents found Google Translate helpful in quickly understanding German words and sentences, simplifying assignment completion, and encouraging independent learning. However, students also recognized weaknesses, such as translations that do not always reflect the context, errors in sentence structure, and dependence on the application that can reduce critical thinking skills. Based on the questionnaire results, the level of positive student responses was in the high category, averaging 70%, indicating that Google Translate remains an effective tool in learning German despite its limitations. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of Google Translate has a significant positive impact on the German language learning process at UHKBPNP, especially in terms of efficiency and vocabulary enrichment. However, its use needs to be balanced with students' linguistic understanding and critical thinking, to avoid dependence and misinterpretation in the translation process