LN911-15 Critical Skills for the Translation Profession
Introductory description
This module introduces students to current professional practices in the language industry from a critical perspective. Through a combination of lectures and seminars based on problem-solving activities and analysis of real-world scenarios, it will offer an in-depth understanding of the main stages in a professional translation process, providing both knowledge of and skills in a variety of professional aspects relevant to the translation industry. As well as becoming familiar with language industry demands, emerging job profiles, translation competence models, the role of technology, market requirements and the need to specialise, students will develop a critical and reflexive stance towards their position within the current translation job market. Crucially, students will acquire the necessary analytical skills to assess ethical dilemmas and the challenges and opportunities of translation as a sustainable profession.
Additionally, the module will provide students with opportunities (shadowing or volunteering) to engage with Language Service Providers or organisations through an optional company visit. This exercise will allow students to engage with professionals in the industry and reflect on the themes covered in class.
Module aims
This module aims to expand students' understanding of the translation profession in the 21st century. It will prepare them (1) to critically assess the key demands and expectations of the job market, (2) to negotiate ethical working conditions enabling social, economic and environmental sustainability in the profession, and (3) to ultimately apply their knowledge to reflect on and make informed decisions regarding the advancement of their careers. The wide range of aspects considered (i.e. the diversity of job profiles and the role of professional associations, the different translation competence frameworks, the impact of technology on human translation and its societal implications, the need to specialise in particular domains, the ethics of the translation profession, the neoliberal economics of translation and non-hegemonic alternatives for a sustainable profession) seeks to encourage students to delve further into one or more areas of interest, which will form the basis of the assessed component.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The syllabus is structured in six sessions, combining lectures and seminars, with specified independent reading time in between each session. Students will be provided with handouts to prepare for group discussions and seminars based on problem-solving activities and analysis of real-world scenarios.
Session 1. The job market: insights from the profession
Session 2. The translation profession in the 21st century: European Masters of Translation competence framework
Session 3. The need to specialise
Session 4. Translation and technology: societal implications
Session 5. Translation ethics and sustainability: the future of the profession
Session 6. Work-in-progress seminar about the professional development plan (ideally in week 10)
Additionally, students are encouraged to attend an optional company visit.
Representatives from the local translation industry and members of the regional Institute of Translation and Interpreting may contribute as guest lecturers for this module.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the parameters informing professional practice in relation to translation ethics and sustainability, as well as the wider economic, political, cultural and technological context of translation.
- Acquire advanced knowledge of key translation competences and critical skills in a variety of theoretical and practical aspects relevant to the current translation industry.
- Demonstrate a profound awareness of how technology supports and modifies the role of the translator, as well as of the societal implications of CAT tools and machine translation services.
- Engage in independent evaluation of trends in the translation profession from an ethical and sustainable perspective, reflecting on the advancement of their own careers in a professional development plan.
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the value of specialisation in the language industries
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
International
All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of Britain and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.
Subject specific skills
Students will develop the ability not only to understand key aspects in the translation profession in the 21st century, but also critical skills to (1) assess the key demands and expectations of the job market, (2) negotiate ethical working conditions enabling social, economic and environmental sustainability in the profession, and (3) ultimately apply their knowledge to reflect on and make informed decisions regarding the advancement of their careers.
Transferable skills
All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and the other language(s) of study, intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the other language(s) of study, personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%) |
| Seminars | 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%) |
| Private study | 138 hours (92%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Independent study
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| Professional development plan | 100% | Yes (extension) | |
|
Students will write a reflective and critical piece in which they will show: (a) their understanding of translation in a professional context, focusing on one or various aspects covered in the module and engaging with academic readings; (b) and their capacity to reflect on their own career and opportunities. The plan will test the students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills to make decisions about their personal and professional perspectives. |
|||
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Feedback will be provided in the course of the module in a number of ways. Feedback should be understood to be both formal and informal and is not restricted to feedback on formal written work. Oral feedback will be provided by the module tutor in the course of seminar discussion. This may include feedback on points raised in small group work or in the course of individual presentations or larger group discussions. Written feedback will be provided on the formal assessment using the standard SMLC Assessed Work feedback form appropriate to the assessment. Feedback is intended to enable continuous improvement throughout the module and written feedback is generally the final stage of this feedback process. Feedback will always demonstrate areas of success and areas for future development, which can be applied to future assessments. Feedback will be both discipline-specific and focussed on key transferrable skills, enabling students to apply this feedback to their future professional lives. Feedback will be fair and reasonable and will be linked to the SMLC marking scheme appropriate to the module.
Courses
This module is Core for:
-
TLNA-Q910 Postgraduate Taught Translation and Cultures
- Year 1 of Q910 Translation and Cultures
- Year 1 of Q910 Translation and Cultures
- Year 1 of Q911 Translation and Cultures: Literary Translation Studies
- Year 1 of Q912 Translation and Cultures: Translation and Technologies
- Year 2 of Q910 Translation and Cultures
This module is Optional for:
- Year 1 of TRSA-V1PF Postgraduate Taught Culture of the European Renaissance