Students

TRAN821 – Interpreting Practice 1

2015 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jing Fang
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MTransInter or MTransInterMAppLing or MTransInterMIntRel or PGDipTransInter or MTransIntStudies or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MAdvTransInterStud and GradDipTransInter
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is designed to introduce the basic concept of interpreting and help students develop key interpreting techniques such as listening skills, text analysis, memory retention, note-taking and oral translation skills. The unit will build on theoretical principles introduced in TRAN870, and will enable students to apply theory to practice, helping students to recognise factors that influence the effective use of different interpreting techniques in different contexts, as well as the decision making involved in selecting one interpreting technique over another. Participants will be expected to perform individual, peer and group evaluations.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • By the end of the semester, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • 2. Display developing interpreting techniques: note-taking, reformulation, anticipation, and approximation
  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 5. Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

General Assessment Information

Interpreting exams will be audio- or video-recorded and marking will be done based on a marking rubric developed by the teaching staff involved. The self-reflective task should be submitted to tutors electronically via iLearn. Glossary checking will be done in class, and the reflective discussion about glossary preparation should be submitted via iLearn. 

Follow tutors’ instructions: • fill in and include the cover sheet provided on the Linguistics web site: • http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/support/coversheet.htm • add a footer to each page of the assignment, with page numbering, your name and student number, and the unit code clearly marked e.g., Robin Brown, 40112333, LING923 • type double-spaced • use the appropriate subject heading for the email (see below) • use the appropriate file name for the attachment (see below). Please note that assignments will not be accepted unless they have both the coversheet and the footer. Please submit assignments one time only unless specifically requested. Please do NOT submit assignments by email directly to the Unit Convenor In case of electronic submission, you must submit the assignment in MSWord or RTF format or Excel spreadsheet. Email subject headers: When emailing assignments, please use subject headings such as: TRANGXXX ass1 TRANXXX ass2 option # Please also ensure that your full name and student number appears in the body of the email message. It is often impossible to determine from whom an email comes by looking at the sender’s email address. 

Unless students have negotiated an extension based on documented evidence of significant disruption to their studies, a penalty of 5% per day will apply to late submission of assignments. 

Unless otherwise negotiated, assignments will not be accepted at all AFTER the date on which the marked assignments are returned to all students in the unit

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Final exam 50% Week 14
self reflective task 20% ongoing
Glossary 20% ongoing
class performance 10% ongoing

Final exam

Due: Week 14
Weighting: 50%

  • Sight translation into A language (approx. 200 words):10 points
  • Dialogue interpreting: 25 points
  • Consecutive interpreting into A language (200 words divided into two segments): 15 points

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • By the end of the semester, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • 2. Display developing interpreting techniques: note-taking, reformulation, anticipation, and approximation
  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 5. Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice

self reflective task

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Students need to select one of the weekly self-practices and do reflective discussions based on it. Both the task and the reflective discussions should be included in a learning portfolio. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 2. Display developing interpreting techniques: note-taking, reformulation, anticipation, and approximation
  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Glossary

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Students need to build a glossary before each assigned topic and reflect upon the contribution of the glossary to the assignment afterwards. The glossaries and reflections should be included in a learning portfolio. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 5. Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

class performance

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 10%

Class participation and class performance will be checked regularly by the tutors.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • By the end of the semester, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • 2. Display developing interpreting techniques: note-taking, reformulation, anticipation, and approximation

Delivery and Resources

Three major interpreting modes, namely dialogue interpreting, consecutive interpreting, and sight translation, will be introduced through tutorials. While students are taught consecutive interpreting into A language (i.e. their mother tongue), they are engaged in practice in delivering sight translation and dialogue interpreting in both language directions (A↔B). Other class activities include listening comprehension exercises, memory extension exercises, vocabulary quizzes, discussions on professional ethics and social-cultural aspects of community interpreting, role plays, paraphrasing, and speech presentations. Teaching materials are selected from various sources including TV and radio news and current affairs programs, newspaper and magazine articles, scripted and recorded dialogues, and speeches from the Internet. These materials deal with a spectrum of topics such as Education, Government (Politics and Local government, Welfare, Immigration), Economy (Finance, Insurance), Health (Medical), and Law (Police, Consumer Affairs, etc.). Students are encouraged to conduct comparative studies into social cultural similarities and differences between Australia and the country where LOTE (language other than English) is spoken. Students are expected to do preparation work at home before each class and to practice their interpreting skills in self-organized small groups between classes during the week. Through the program-arranged practicum, students will be able to participate in supervised practice and will be offered chances to practice in real and/or simulated interpreting settings. Self-monitoring and error analysis are essential in improving individual interpreting performance quality. Students should reflect their learning process. Students are required to participate in the weekly online discussion through iLearn (see details below), which are to help them to keep track of their progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses and work toward improving their competence. iLearn facility is available to assist learning (go to http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/, MQID and PW needed), where students can have discussions on various topics related to the course, and selfpractice materials are also provided there for some language streams. Please discuss with your tutors regarding effective study plans and how to use iLearn for teaching and learning.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment task

  • self reflective task

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of the semester, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • 2. Display developing interpreting techniques: note-taking, reformulation, anticipation, and approximation
  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 5. Develop domain-specific knowledge

Assessment tasks

  • Final exam
  • Glossary

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment task

  • self reflective task

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 4. Explain relevance of extra-linguistic and cultural knowledge
  • 5. Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment task

  • Glossary

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of the semester, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • 3. Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice

Assessment tasks

  • Final exam
  • class performance

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 6. Demonstrate familiarity of interpreter roles in practice
  • 7. Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment tasks

  • self reflective task
  • class performance