Students
TRAN8021 – Introduction to Interpreting Practice
2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Jing Fang
Marc Orlando
Tutor
Sophia Ra
Tutor
Natsuki Del Prado
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MTransInter or MTransInterMIntRel or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MAdvTransInterStud and GradDipTransInter or GradCertCommInter or MConfInt
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| 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 fundamental theoretical principles, 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:
- ULO1: Demonstrate the ability to accurately transfer messages from B language to A language in different modes.
- ULO2: Develop essential interpreting techniques: segmentation, reformulation, prediction and note-taking.
- ULO3: Understand discourse for the purpose of interpreting.
- ULO4: Develop an understanding of extra-linguistic and cultural aspects of discourse.
- ULO5: Develop domain-specific knowledge.
- ULO6: Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice.
- ULO7: Establish self-directed learning skills to enhance professional skills.
- ULO8: Demonstrate reflective and critical practice to become life-long learners.
General Assessment Information
Students are expected to submit all work by the due date. Applications for assessment task extensions must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au. For further details, please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.
If you haven't been approved for an extension and you submit your assessment task late, penalties are applied. You should consult your unit convenor if you are in this position. Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks. Weekends and public holidays are included.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Dialogue Interpreting Examination | 25% | No | Week 14 |
| Reflective Essay | 25% | No | Week 10 |
| Interpreting Examination | 25% | No | Week 9 |
| Video Presentation | 25% | No | Week 14 |
Live Dialogue Interpreting Examination
Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Week 14
Weighting: 25%
Students are required to interpret part of a live dialogue between an English speaker and a LOTE (Language Other Than English) speaker. An assignment brief will be sent to students to enable preparation beforehand and students are required to record their own interpreting performance for reflection purposes. Exam duration approx 20 minutes (dialogue interpreting in small groups)
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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice.
Reflective Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 25%
Students are required to write a reflective essay of approximately 1000 words following the interpreting examination. In the essay, students should provide a diagnostic assessment of their individual performance in the exam, analyse any problems or difficulties encountered and propose ways to address such.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- 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.
Interpreting Examination
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 25%
The exam consists of one sight translation task of approximately 200 words and one consecutive passage interpreting task of approximately 300 words (delivered in 3 segments), both of which shall be from the B language of the student (first acquired language) into A language (native language). Students will be provided with an assignment brief for the consecutive passage interpreting task in advance to enable preparation. Exam duration: Approx 30 minutes.
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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of interpreter roles in practice.
Video Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Week 14
Weighting: 25%
In this task, students are required to choose one of the topics introduced during the lectures and make a 5 minute video presentation. Each student shall provide an introduction of the topic chosen, review her/his own learning process and propose further actions to further consolidate her/his knowledge and/or enhance skills.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- 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.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Attendance and participation
In the Translation and Interpreting program, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all classes and small group interactive sessions including tutorials. When attending a class via Zoom, students are expected to turn on their camera and participate actively to proposed activities and discussions. They must ensure their IT set up and connectivity allow for such participation.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.
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.
Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook