Is translation a good way to learn a language?

[ICAL TEFL]

In my opinion - and the opinion of many, many linguists - you are correct. Your teacher is using what is called grammar-translation which is an old fashioned method of teaching which has been widely discontinued in most schools. It does work, but it is not the best way to learn; it is rather rigid and you are right that it is not natural.

What is preferred these days is a more communicative and natural approach. That is dealing only in the target language and learning it like a child learns their first language.