if she depended on google translate it's gonna be obvious.

Google translate is ok for getting the gist of a sentence, but it's NOT good for real translation of long passages.

I use it to help my kids (ages 12 and 10) with their homework - mostly so I can understand the math story problems they have in Spanish. It's "pidgin" Spanish, at best.

I know that professors need proof to take disciplinary action for cheating. I don't think your word will suffice. You would have had to alert the instructor while the test was in progress. However, if you tell the prof now, he/She can be aware of more closely monitoring the test.

why would you do that? will that somehow improve your life? her work will tell on her soon enough

Using your logic, I shouldn't phone in a robbery in progress I witness at a local liquor store just because I'm not drinking that day.

Otherwise, the entire class is degraded.

I'm a college instructor. Plagiarism is rampant, and it causes the honest students to finish below their cheating counterparts.

Do your part, defend the integrity of the academic process.

Unless, of course, it was a business school class, where learning to cheat is really relevant

I wouldn't do it.

I'm sure that the teacher has noted the fact that she's rarely there. Her assignments all along are probably shoddily done. I'm not sure that the google translator is all that accurate.

this is how people get away with fraud but isnt it up to the teacher to keep an eye on the students

So, if anyone takes the time to look, it will be plain as day that she cheated. But the teacher explained all this in the foreign language... so it is possible the cheating student did not understand the instructions!

like this one to send an anonymous email message to your instructor, although I'm pretty sure that she'll be able to figure this out without being tipped off.

the people who say not to tell on the student, it is sad that society has evolved to the point where lying and cheating are considered acceptable. It makes you wonder if Romney was a liar and cheater as a young man and, if so, had someone called him out on it years ago would we be in the place we are in this years Presidential race?

I am so sick to death of the many (and not just the elite) who think rules/laws don't apply to them; that they feel fully justified in breaking them/cheating; that they get all pissy when they get caught. Like it's someone else's fault! Turn 'em in!

....they will be able to figure it out. Google Translate isn't exactly accurate. I would figure there are reg flags that would go up.

I think many colleges and universities have a 'cheating policy'...

sometimes they even have 'academic integrity' offices....

It's called 'academic misconduct' usually.

I think they would prefer if you reported it. Just my opinion.

We are in Sweden, improving our swedish to a level where we can attend university classes.
There are also financial aid reasons riding on why a person would be interested in cheating. She runs the risk of owing money back to the government if she doesn't pass the class.

This was the big exam. The teacher seems like a real stickler about the rules, too. I know the teacher would prefer that I reported it...but...hmmm. I am still undecided.

level course.

OTOH, will being reported prevent her from being accepted into University to begin with?

The professor probably already knows.

It can only give you the gist of the text but its not usually completely coherent. Not only that but there's more than a few words that simply don't translate well.

Her professor's most likely already does know. It would be really obvious.

Not only that but if this is an entrance exam for her to get into the university, once she's in (assuming she passes this class) and having to function in even more language intensive classes, she'll really fail out.

She'll do it on her own, no need for you to even be involved.

Those translators murder a slang-rich language like English as a result.

Specifically, chinese to swedish.

One of the girls was passing out crib notes and he and I were the only two that didn't accept them. We didn't score that well. I went to the professor and told her flat out that the test wasn't fair for that reason. She let both of us retake a similar exam to make up for the cheating but I don't think she did anything to discipline the others. We were both in a bad disposition on the first test because we knew the others were cheating. In retrospect, and given the ass-kissing the girl in question did, I think the professor probably helped generate the crib notes. Either way, it royally pissed me off.

If you think it would impact the grade curve, or specifically your grade, its one thing. But one student cheating will probably not impact the curve enough to matter. If the class is small enough, I would tell only if it was to protect the integrity of your own grade. If its not going to impact your grade, I would leave it alone.

Cheating is a part of life. People cheat everywhere. I am an attorney and I have seen lawyers "cheat" with their work. Factor it into your life and move along. Use your disgust as a reason to never stoop to that level.

A lesson on true life. If this is truly who you are, go with it. Be prepared for backlash later in life. Unless you want to ignore future corruption, and thus set yourself up to adopt hypocrisy, (which I believe we all eventually do).

It's everywhere. Cheaters sometimes win. Deals happen behind closed doors. Payoffs work.

In 5 years will it matter? Or are you willing to go all Don Quixote? Right and wrong become grayer, more nebulous, and perhaps more negotiable.

was cheating.

In terms of providing proof, but the prof won't know to check the history if the OP doesn't say anything.

We had an essay test where we had 4 hours to write an essay in the foreign language as we learn. We sat on the computer and used the word for office. Dictionaries got, but we could not use the internet. The student next to me spent a lot of time using Google Translate. By that I mean that she is in great pieces at a time into Google Translate.

This student comes to class so rarely, I do not even know her name (I know everyone else's name, is that there are only 15 people in the class). Honestly, it makes me annoyed that she thinks she can only sometimes show up in class and then pretty much cheating on the exam.

I feel like sending an email to our teachers, to let her know what I was witnessing.
But it would make me look bad? Nobody likes a Tattle Tale, as they say ...

What do you think?

=================================================================

That's what Google Translate looks like in English-Swedish-English

Try a language not closely related to English and it's even stranger.

Machine translations have a very distinct flavor.

The student next to me to cheat. I will say, why do not you do?

Where had four hours to write an essay of a foreign language we are learning we have had in-class essay. Sitting in front of the computer, we are using the word of the office. Dictionary had been allowed, it was not possible to use the Internet to us. Students spent a lot of time using the Google translation next to me. By that, I her, it means that Google will insert the paragraph of the once great translation.

It does not come to class rarely so, (which is that I have 15 people only in the class, you know the name of someone else) I also this student, do you know her name I do not know. That we believe to be honest, it can and she appears in class final exam quite capture just occasionally, when the city, I will be annoyed.

Order to inform her what I had witnessed, I feel to send e-mail to our teacher.
However, that I would look bad? As they say, nobody, not like a tattle tale ...

What you think?

Wow! The student was inserting big paragraphs of chinese text into google translate to swedish.

I have a feeling the teacher is going to catch on, whether I tell her or not.

People think they can get away with stuff and nobody will ever call them out. Her cheating isn't fair to you or the other people in the class. For example, if the class is graded on a strict curve her grade could bump a non-cheater down to a failing grade.

If you don't stand up for what's right, don't complain about her cheating. You let it happen.

I am not worried about my own grade because I am at the top of the class, but when you put it that way... I can think of some students who show up every day and work at it, and are struggling.
All the rest of us work hard at it, (all the other 14 of us). It is the principle of it.

on the other hand, if the cheater takes an advantage over you because of the cheating then maybe squeal...

But that is because I work at it, I take school seriously, I study a lot, and I honestly want to do well. Anyway, I am not worried about my grade at all. It may be unfair to a few of the other students who are struggling yet who show up every day and do their homework, though. Everybody else in the class seems to want to honestly improve, except this one cheater.

I really don't understand this stigma against reporting instances of cheating. Sure, cheating on an exam is not the biggest offense in the world, but if nothing else it would be useful for the teacher to know that they perhaps ought to do more to create an environment where exams are completed honestly.

If it addresses other students having knowledge of cheating by a fellow student,
then I would follow the steps they outline for bringing it to the attention of
the teacher.

When she is expected to know what was on the test, and doesn't, in real life

this kind of thing will extract its own consequences.............

at your school. If this is the case, you being quiet is the same as cheating. You must tell the instructor, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy have strict honor codes.
There's a lot at stake there.
Violation can get you busted out.
Otherwise...who you gonna tell?
Will her grade affect you in any way?
IMHO it's snitching, and as you said...

at which I teach. It's a far cry from a military academy.

A student most certainly can be expelled for egregious violations. Usually they are failed in their course. In some instances, they simply receive a failing grade for the assignment . . . it depends on the severity of the situation.

I find the prison mentality in this thread (your and others), fascinating: don't be a "snitch" - everybody cheats - why do you care if it doesn't impact you?

Yes, the offender in this case will probably be outed by virtue of stupidity, but that doesn't mean that an observer should stand by and do nothing. Honor codes don't just mean 'don't cheat' - they mean live by a higher ethical standard than the "B" block at a penitentiary.

I would appreciate knowing something like this. Just the other day I had a student cheat on an exam. It makes a mockery of the professor and the rest of the class, and is grossly unfair.

OP: Yes, please do tell. Profs know when a student hasnt been showing up or doing the work(unless the whole show is being run by TAs, that doesnt seem to be the case here). We know what to watch for. I know I would appreciate if a student told me what was going on. It isnt fair to students who follow the rules.

What do you teach?

like myself, who perhaps sent you an email letting you know what I had observed?

Or what if I sent a more subtle email to the teacher, saying:
"you really do need to check students' browser history"
"somebody used google translate and I saw them with my own eyes!"

I don't know... how do I tell the teacher/professor (lärare, egentligen), without being annoying, or seeming like a gossipy snitch?

on the contrary, I would think you had scruples!

I wouldn't tell your teacher what to do (i.e. don't say he/she needs to do x, y, or z).
However, a short email saying that you witnessed a student improperly using the internet for translations, and you wish to be kept anonymous would suffice (though I doubt any teacher would ever use your name).

After thinking it though, I wrote a note that basically described (obviously not in english) what I saw, without naming any names. I also explained that I had thought it over the whole day whether to tell or not, but in the end, I decided that it is unfair to the students who are honestly working hard and struggling at passing this class. I wrote the teacher's name on it and gave it to another teacher to give to her.

Tell her about the cheating. What I really have a hard time comprehending is some posters on this thread saying not to tell, and "don't be a snitch." I feel that if Quantess doesn't tell, she is aiding and abetting. I'd rather stand up for what's right any day. No wonder society is so fucked up....it's better to be a cheater than to tell on one!

She will be lucky to a D!!!!

shit.

The point is to learn FAR too many people cheat in class/tests/etc and professors/TA's may or may not catch it.

Other's have said that using google translate will be obvious but don't count on that, you witnessed it, have some integrity and fuck the 'no one likes a tattle tale' this isn't (I presume) elementary school where your and other's insecurities have a large sway over your existence.

You make the choice but if it were me I'd say fuck that shit and report this person, I don't care about any BS about telling there's still a good chance the professor/teacher/ta etc will give them a break. You making a report doesn't guarantee they will fail or face anything that they can't fix or get out of AND even if it did they did it to themselves by cheating.

I wrote a note describing what I witnessed. I explained (in swedish of course) that I had pondered the whole day whether I should tell or not, but that it was unfair to the students who are honestly struggling and working hard to pass this class. I did not name any names, but just gave some clues.

Then I folded it up and handed it to a different teacher, explained that I wanted to remain anonymous, and asked her to give it to ms. swedish teacher. The lady was very understaning and nice about it.

So, that's it! No names named. Just an anonymous tip. I feel pretty good about it.



BTW, in swedish it seems like to be called a professor takes a bit more than it does in the USA. Or at least, instructor and teacher are the same word.

But the problem in not telling, is that someone else might have seen him to, and if they felt he got away with it, might decide to do the same thing.

She really is a stickler for the rules. I would bet money this student will not get a passing grade.

I just happened to get seated in the back row of computers, because I arrived later than everybody else and there weren't many seats left. But if you plan on cheating while using a computer apparently you want the back row! Obviously that is the scheme the student next to me had cooked up.

Though technically a Professor is the highest rank outside of administrative positions like dean or provost. Young faculty are hired as Assistant professors, earn the title of Associate professor, and may advance to full Professor if their publishing is robust. No one addressees someone as Asst or Assoc. professor though. Teacher is simply a term for anyone who teaches, but I never liked being called that since it suggests a lower level of education. An instructor is typically a grad student or a PhD in a non-tenure earning position. Of course people commonly use the terms interchangeably.

it seemed like 1 or 2 people wondered if I am in high school because I used the title "teacher". I am in Sweden where teacher / instructor is the same word.

Did you get an absentee ballot?

I speak / hear swedish all day long, everyday. Sometimes I notice my english ability slipping, when I read what I had written here at the DU. Oh well. I'm still an american citizen!

As an instructor, the main reason I follow up on cheating is a sense of obligation to the students who are struggling but don't take the short-cut of cheating. I'm proud of you!

For over twenty years. Believe me, most students who make a habit of cheating don't get away with it for very long. They may manage to pull it off one or two times, but eventually the huge gap between what what they contribute in class or earn on quizzes and the obviously professionally produced term paper or stellar final exam will raise someone's suspicions. Professors are no fonder of being hood-winked than anyone else, and most are pretty computer-savvy these days.

I've seen teachers spend weeks tracking down where a cheater cribbed his or her term paper from, and when they find it - and most eventually do - the results aren't pretty. I wish the media were as dogged when going after politicians!

Back in the day I was in accounting class, I sat in the back. There was a professor's wife in the class. Her husband the professor was quite popular and had no qualms about having affairs with students. He was, at the time, having an affair with my best friend (this was back before this sort of activity was turned into a federal crime). The accounting prof handed out the test and then left the room. About half the class started comparing answers. The prof's wife did not start it, but quickly chimed in and because she was good in the class she started handing out answers. Bedlam ensued. I was watching this from the back of the room...appalled. This activity went on until the accounting prof returned. Personally, I never would have considered telling the accounting prof. I mean, ya just didn't do stuff like that.

Come the following Monday the accounting teacher arrives in class grim-faced. I can't remember if Ms. Wife-of-Professor was there or not, I'm thinking she wasn't. Seems she went home after the test and felt guilty so she told her husband about the cheating. Professor Husband told her she had to call the accounting prof and rat out not only herself but the students she helped. They all got Fs. What a cluster. Cheating the minute the prof left? Other prof's wife handing out answers (semi-entrapment if you ask me). Cheating husband telling his cheating wife she had to 'fess up. Cheating wife 'fessing up and then fingering the people she handed answers to? It's bad Shakespeare. Never was I so glad not to be a cheater.

and that had inspired you to tell her to be honest with her about all the students in the class that her husband had screwed. You could explain that although this information was very upsetting, you felt it was your duty to live up the the standards of honesty that she herself had set.

Another teacher here. I've also taught on the college level. If education has any value, it must be protected.

I am happy with the way I decided to let the instructor know, with an "anonymous" note.
No names named, just enough hints to make it really easy to figure out.

I'm a teacher here. I turned in a student who was in one of my teacher education classes in a masters program. She was assigned to a group project with me, and a portion of our group paper was written by her. I ran it through a plagiarism checker - she copied and pasted it off the internet. I was irate. It was inconceivable to me that someone that close to becoming a teacher would think so little of the education process and have so little integrity. If she got kicked out of the program for it I didn't think that was such a bad thing. Also I was irate that she was so easily willing to risk getting everyone in her group, including me, kicked out of the program for plagiarism.

If your classmate is willing to cheat on an assignment, you have to wonder what else they'd falsify once they get a job in their field. (Maybe they'll graduate to dumpstering voter registration forms?)

just because I usually don't tell on others.

Not giving a suggestion, just sharing what I would do.

and add at the end... "I did notice that at least one of the students used the internet for reference. I didn't realize that this was an option. Did I miss something?"

Despite honor policies. When I taught, I never went a semester without a plagiarism issue.
Quantess, Please see post 66 above. I mistakenly replied to another comment.

Zeus is waiting your answer to return to Earth and smite all corrupt people! Do it right now!