LA895-7-SP-CO:
Professional Skills for Translators
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
15 March 2022
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA Q91212 Chinese-English Translation and Professional Practice
In this module, you will improve your employability in translation-related professions by compiling and refining self-promotional materials as well as expanding your translation capability to accommodate complex situations where added and transferrable skills are required.
Building on your practical translation training, you will gain insights into the translation profession, become confident in applying for translation-related freelancing and in-house positions, perform tasks with specific subject backgrounds, identify translation challenges and overcome them by applying different strategies and techniques.
The module aims to provide an overview of the translation market and help you to prepare materials required for entering the market, expand your peripheral skills and improve your employability for translation-related positions.
It addresses issues of self-marketing, time and finance management, communication with team members and clients, as well as features and translation techniques of specialised texts. Discussions covered include CV and cover letter writing, translation tests on the market, peripheral skills, specialised translation fields and skills, service list and rates, etc.
On successful completion of this course unit:
• You will construct your personalised toolkit for employment in the translation market, including CV versions, cover letter template, professional profiles and portfolio of works, etc.
• You will gain a deeper understanding of the structure of the translation market and identify your advantages and disadvantages of entering the translation market reflecting on your interests, educational and work experience.
• You will become aware of the multiple dimensions and transferrable skills of translation as a profession, and be able to apply to translation-related positions with confidence.
Weekly practice of professional skills and translation of texts belonging to different genres and dealing with different topics. Classes will be complemented by departmental workshops and seminars led by professionals in the field.
Some of the topics to be covered in class include:
•CV & CL
•Platforms & Portfolio
•Translation Tests on the market
•Generalisation vs Specialisation
•Time & Money
•Freelancing vs In-housing
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 |
Employability Patchwork 1 |
27/01/2025 |
10% |
| Coursework |
Employability Patchwork 2 |
24/02/2025 |
20% |
| Coursework |
Mock Job Application |
18/03/2025 |
70% |
Additional coursework information
N/A
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Antonia Wu, email: a.wu@essex.ac.uk.
Antonia Wu
3.304, y.wu@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Chonglong Gu
University of Liverpool
Lecturer in Chinese Translation Studies
Available via Moodle
Of 34 hours, 32 (94.1%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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