(MA) Master of Arts
Conference Interpreting and Translation (Chinese-English)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
MA T1Q912
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a subject which has a major component of English.
If Mandarin Chinese is not your first language, you will need to hold HSK level 6 to be considered for this course.
Applicants may be required to attend an interview (by skype) and successfully pass Translation and Interpreting aptitude tests.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Chonglong Gu
Lecturer in Chinese Translation Studies
University of Liverpool
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To develop high-level conference interpreting skills with the focus on training simultaneous and consecutive interpreters.
- In addition to develop specialised simultaneous and consecutive interpreting skills, this programme aims to provide students with training in bilateral interpreting, technologies of translation, transcreation skills etc.
- Using market oriented approach to provide students with a solid understanding of the ethics and practice of professional conference interpreting and translation.
- To develop field knowledge and pre-task preparation skills for working as a conference interpreter.
- To introduce students to the principles underlying the practice of translation of texts from different genres between Chinese and English.
- To build up professional development skills, allowing students to focus on the contexts in which they can expect to work as conference interpreters.
- To provide students with an overview of key concepts and practices in Computer Aided Translation, machine translation and post-editing skills necessary for employment in professional translation.
- To prepare students to professional Interpreting and Translation Project Management.
- To give students internship opportunity to undertake a practical project in interpreting and translation.
- To provide students with a solid understanding of the ethics and practice of conference interpreting and translation.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: High-level conference interpreting skills needed to work as a professional in the Language Services Industry.
A2: Technologies used to support translation, post-editing and interpreting.
A3: Essential knowledge required to work as a conference interpreter working for international conferences.
A4: Specialist handling of Terminology, Translation Memories, CAT translation and post editing skills for a range of commercial, public sector and media contexts.
A5: Specialized knowledge of Translation and interpreting Project Management
Learning methods
A1 and A2 are addressed through attendance at lectures and application of the principles encountered in lectures to practical tasks undertaken in classes, mock conferences, labs and in independent work. A3 is addressed through lectures and seminar discussion. A4 is developed through the construction of personal glossaries and Translation Memories based on assignments undertaken in class, lab and independent work.
Assessment methods
Methods used to assess knowledge and understanding typically include lab tests, translation audio-visual assignments, for the technical modules and essays writing for the theoretical modules. The most highly weighted measure of students’ knowledge and understanding is the MA dissertation, which comprises a practical translation or practical subtitling project component, and a reflective/evaluative component.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Identification of the key elements of information in a range of different types of oral and written discourse.
B2: Organisation of ideas, arguments and evidence in the production of written and oral discourse.
B3: Communicating ideas expressed in one language effectively in a second language.
B4: Use of language that is appropriate to different spoken registers and written genres.
B5: Critical evaluation of the effectiveness of language used for different communicative purposes and different media.
Learning methods
Practical methods are used the most in the programme with a combination of theoretical input. Methods used to develop intellectual/cognitive skills typically include acquisition of knowledge through lectures (B1 and B4), and application of knowledge acquired in lectures to practical tasks undertaken in classes, labs and in independent work (B1-B5).
Assessment methods
Practical methods are used in assessments. Methods used to assess knowledge and understanding typically include translations and interpreting assignments, essay and report writing. The most highly weighted measure of students’ intellectual and cognitive skills is the MA dissertation, which comprises a practical translation, or practical interpreting assignment and a reflective/evaluative component.
C: Practical skills
C1: Production of fast and accurate simultaneous interpreting in a variety of international conferences.
C2: Production of fast and accurate consecutive interpreting in a variety of subject fields.
C3: Competent usage of computer-based technologies and audio-visual, post editing technologies in translation and interpreting.
C4: Production of fast and accurate oral translations of aurally presented discourse across a range of registers.
C5: Advanced research skills and pre-task preparation techniques
Learning methods
Methods used to develop practical skills typically include working together on multilingual conferences, using specialised software, translation and post editing skills undertaken in classes and labs and undertaken as independent work outside the classroom. A series of seminars and workshops lead by industry professionals will complement the standard teaching.
Assessment methods
Methods used to assess practical skills typically include translations and interpreting assignments, essay and report writing. The most highly weighted measure of students’ practical skills is the MA dissertation which comprises a practical translation, or practical interpreting assignment, or practical subtitling project component, and a reflective/evaluative component.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicating ideas, information and arguments in oral and written form in English and another language, with a level of fluency, accuracy, clarity and effectiveness across a range of registers and styles
D2: IT skills that include word-processing email, searching of e-resources, Computer Aided Translation (CAT) and use of dubbing and subtitling software.
D3: Professional ethics and market entry skills.
D4: Pre-task preparation techniques, finding, acquiring and organising information; project management; evaluating the merits of different solutions to problems.
D5: Collaborating with others to produce joint solutions to problems; grasping other points of view.
D6: Working autonomously; time management; working to deadlines; using e-resources to inform decisions.
Learning methods
Methods used to develop key skills typically include translation using a variety of CAT tools including machine translation. Post editing, translation and interpreting project management undertaken in classes and labs, and undertaken as independent work outside the classroom.
Assessment methods
Methods used to assess key skills typically include: Role-plays, interpreting tasks, presentations, mock conferences, translations and post editing tasks and essay writing. The most highly weighted measure of students’ acquisition of key skills is the MA dissertation, which comprises a practical translation, or practical interpreting project component and a reflective/evaluative component.