Students

TRAN821 – Interpreting Practice 1

2017 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Jing Fang
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Lecturer
Anna Kenny
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Lecturer
Sydney Ye
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Lecturer
Deborah Miyashita
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Lecturer
Sophia Ra
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Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MTransInter or MTransInterMIntRel or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MAdvTransInterStud and GradDipTransInter or GradCertCommInter
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:

  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse
  • Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills
  • Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Learning portfolio 50% No ongoing
Exam 50% No Week 14

Learning portfolio

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 50%

The learning portfolio includes various interpreting tasks preparation and reflective journals.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse
  • Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills
  • Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Exam

Due: Week 14
Weighting: 50%

Students will sit for an interpreting exam at the end of the semester.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse
  • Develop domain-specific knowledge

Delivery and Resources

Three major interpreting modes, namely dialogue interpreting, consecutive interpreting, and sight translation, will be introduced. 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). 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, Welfare, Immigration, and Health. Students are expected to do preparation work at home before each class and to practice their interpreting skills between classes during the week. Self-monitoring and self-assessment are essential in improving individual interpreting performance quality. Students should reflect on their learning process. Students are required to participate in regular online tasks 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. At the end of the semester, students should submit a learning portfolio which include all the in/out of class activities, self-reflections, and glossaries on different domain specific topics. 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_2016.html

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

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources 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

  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills
  • Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment tasks

  • Learning portfolio
  • Exam

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

  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse
  • Develop domain-specific knowledge

Assessment tasks

  • Learning portfolio
  • Exam

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

  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills
  • Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment task

  • Learning portfolio

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

  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse
  • Develop domain-specific knowledge
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills

Assessment tasks

  • Learning portfolio
  • Exam

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

  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes
  • Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
  • Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting
  • Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse

Assessment task

  • Exam

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

  • Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice
  • Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills
  • Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners

Assessment tasks

  • Learning portfolio
  • Exam