(MA) Master of Arts
Translation and Professional Practice
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
Linguistics
MA Q91112
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
If your first language is English
we will consider a 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish.
If your first language is either French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish
we will consider a 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) which includes English as a major component.
Applicants may be required to successfully pass a Translation aptitude test.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in all components.
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 Eloisa Monteoliva
Assistant Professor in Spanish (Translation & Interpreting)
Heriot-Watt University
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 introduce students to the principles underlying the practice of translation of texts from different genres.
- To introduce students to the principles underlying the practice of AVT (Dubbing, Subtitling and Voice Over) in a range of contexts of language use.
- To develop students’ ability to translate accurately between English and one other language (chosen from Arabic or French or German or Italian or Japanese or Portuguese or Spanish) and delivering assignments to variable deadlines.
- To provide students with an overview of key theoretical concepts and professional practices in Computer Aided Translation, machine translation and post-editing skills necessary for employment in professional translation.
- To prepare students for professional Translation Project Management.
- To promote understanding of what is called intercultural competence providing theoretical and applied insights into the relationship between the linguistic and social/situational dimensions of intercultural communication.
- To give students the opportunity to undertake a practical project in translation and or subtitling, and to reflect critically on the experience.
- To provide students with a solid understanding of the ethics and practice of professional translation, and subtitling.
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: Principles of translation and audio-visual translation in a non-native language
A2: Technologies used to support translation, post-editing and subtitling
A3: Intercultural communication, ethics and code of practice in professional translation and in audio-visual communication.
A4: Specialist handling of Terminology (Termbases), Translation Memories, Machine translation and post editing skills for a range of commercial, public sector and media contexts.
A5: Proficient knowledge of Translation 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, 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
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
Methods used to assess knowledge and understanding typically include translations, subtitling 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, or practical subtitling project component, and a reflective/evaluative component.
C: Practical skills
C1: Production of fast and accurate written translations of texts drawn from a variety of genres.
C2: Production of fast and accurate translations of aurally presented discourse across a range of registers (Subtitling/Dubbing/voiceover).
C3: Competent usage of computer-based technologies in translating and audio-visual translation.
C4: Competent and effective post editing skills appropriate to machine translation and other Computer Aided Translation
Learning methods
Methods used to develop practical skills typically include working with specialised software, translation, subtitling, dubbing 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, subtitling 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 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: Finding, understanding and organising information; project management; evaluating the merits of different solutions to problems.
D4: Collaborating with others to produce joint solutions to problems; grasping other points of view.
D5: 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 project management, subtitling and other AVT tasks undertaken in classes and labs, and undertaken as independent work outside the classroom.
Assessment methods
Methods used to assess key skills typically include translations, post editing tasks, subtitling assignments 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 audio-visual (subtitling) project component