An examination of literature in translation is vital to literary interpretation and, ultimately, essential to mutual understanding among peoples from different cultures. Teaching translations requires consideration of linguistic, social, and temporal areas. Translations require alterations in language since languages never translate precisely from one to another. Also, place names and people's names often have more meaning than can be conveyed in one simple designation. Another aspect of the linguistic difficulties in translation is metaphoric language that replaces abstract concepts with pictures. The classroom teacher can develop students' awareness of these problems by having students read Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and ask them what translation problems the author might have faced when he took his play to China. Translations also require acceptance and understanding of social change, such as the change in women's roles. Other areas of social differences requiring compensation are the role of God or the supernatural and alterations of life necessities. Translations of ancient words must also navigate a passage of time between the event and the reader's time, and between the translator's time and the reader's time. A final consideration is the alteration of nations and governments since early times. By emphasizing these areas, teachers can alleviate the vast sense of separation students feel when trying to comprehend translated literature. (A bibliography of sources on translated literature is included.) (HOD)