LA840-7-SP-CO:
Interpreting Practice II

The details
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
01 November 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
LA835
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA Q91012 Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling

Module description

This module's primary objective is to offer a thorough overview of numerous interpretation methods such as consecutive interpreting (CI), bilateral interpreting (BI), and simultaneous interpreting (SI) tutorial sessions. Utilizing a vast selection of language pairs, including English to French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and back, students will gain the necessary expertise to satisfy the growing demands of the interpretation market. This module further aids in developing foundational abilities including shadowing, active listening, paraphrasing, public speaking, memorization techniques, and note-taking, ultimately preparing students for diverse professional interpreting roles, whether nationally or globally.


During the advanced stages of this module, students will power up their skills of attentive listening, info memorisation, summarising, interpreting, and cross-language communication. Alongside enhancing interpreter strategies such as seeking clarifications, repetitions, or solving mistakes, students are trained to handle pre-assignment tasks like research, background understanding, terminology construction, and online resource utilization. Throughout the module, professional conduct is emphasized, and real-world scenarios are simulated by hosting CI mock conferences each term. These events not only provide interpreting practice but also opportunities for organization, public speaking, observation, and peer feedback. Furthermore, we organize expert-led workshops and seminars twice a month throughout the academic year, augmenting practical learning and industry insights.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To introduce and become accustomed to computer-aided interpreting training tools for self and paired-up training (CAIT).

  • To enable students to develop a practical ability to interpret between English and Spanish and vice versa through a wide variety of tasks.

  • To enable students to develop strong competence and effective strategies for bilateral interpreting.

  • To enable students to work with interpreting partners and clients under different circumstances and type of assignments.

  • To enable students to efficiently prepare for an assignment while communicating with the event organizer and knowing where to obtain resources that will facilitate interpreting.

  • To enable students to acquire basic background knowledge of the common fields.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Master bilateral interpreting strategies, enabling effective two-way translation between source and target languages in a multitude of tasks.

  2. Increase their knowledge and skill in employing computer-aided interpreting training (CAIT) tools

  3. Cultivate the competency to apply robust interpreting strategies during challenging situations, thereby maintaining high-quality output.

  4. Acquire the ability to employ chuchotage mode of interpretation at appropriate times.

  5. Display proficiency in executing sight translations as and when required.

  6. Enhance their public speaking and communication skills, making them effective in engagements with partners and clients.

  7. Show efficacy in preparing for interpreting assignments, including the conduct of necessary research on vital resources.

  8. Deepen their understanding of the diverse roles that participants inhabit in situated interactions.

  9. Develop the ability to engage in introspection about the interpreting process, assess their performance and that of their peers, and utilize relevant theoretical constructs.

  10. Heighten their comprehension and application of the Interpreters' Code of Ethics which assists informed decision-making in encountering potential ethical dilemmas.

Module information

Weekly interpreting training on general texts of public service including business, hospital, border issues, immigration, employment, etc. will be provided.


Topics covered in class include:



  • Active-listening in bilateral interpreting

  • Information processing

  • Short-term memory

  • Note-taking

  • Grasping the logical development of the source speech

  • Discourse marker

  • Delivering the meaning/sense between source and target language

  • Working as Public Services interpreters

  • Conductive business mediation and interpreting

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour seminar per week (wks 16-25)
  • One 2-hour multi-lingual session (wks 16-24)
  • One 1-hour lecture per week
  • One 1-hour workshop per term
  • One practical (lab / in-class test) per term
  • Two drop-in sessions (e.g. support classes or screenings) per week

Students are expected to undertake the reading before classes and be prepared to engage in discussion.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   In-class Bilateral Interpreting test     

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Ignazia Posadinu, email: ignazia.posadinu@essex.ac.uk.
Ignazia Posadinu
4.320a; iposad@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Maria Gomez-Bedoya
University of East Anglia
Associate professor in Spanish and Applied Linguistics
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Language and Linguistics

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