Looking words up with online translation tools: an analysis of high school students’ practices Analyse de pratiques d’élèves

L2 learners often resort to online translation systems to look up words. The analysis of high school students' practices through dynamic screen captures reveals traces of the cognitive activities that had been implemented as the students were using these tools. Semantic ambiguity in L1 or L2 can present an obstacle when using these tools, but students sometimes use them effectively by resorting to assisted input and on back-translation for revision purposes.