Suggestions for Students: Avoid Translation

Some translation may be necessary for your safety in a new country.  However, if your first language is a major world language, you will probably have people all around you who are eager to translate words you don't know.  But remember: language learning is not synonymous with memorizing a dictionary, so don't rely on translation for learning.

If you take a peak into a bilingual dictionary (see excerpt below), you will quickly notice that there is not a single word for word correlation between languages.  The ranges of meaning are drastically different in different languages and cultures.  Give yourself time to acquire the ranges of meaning for words in your new language.  So, when people are quick to translate words for you the moment you look confused, politely ask them to refrain; and hold their hasty translations lightly.

via: Webster's New World German Dictionary: German/English English/German