module specification

This is an option module, which focuses on translating texts induced in institutional contexts. The module looks at specificity of texts authored by the institutions in question and provides students with an opportunity to utilise institutional resources (available online) to create target texts complying with institutional standards.
The module offers students another pathway into specialisation and therefore enhances their employability opportunities (working as a freelance or in-house translator with the UN or EU).  By choosing this option module you will:

1. develop a comprehensive understanding of practical and theoretical aspects of translation, culture and texts from various fields pertaining to international organisations

2.  enhance the skills and tools acquired in previous modules and necessary to analyse texts related to international organisations and apply the appropriate translation strategies for effective translation

3. learn to critically examine key issues in the translation of institutional texts and develop further your analytical ability to assess and reflect on translations, identify problems arising out of them and use suitable translation solutions

4. develop the ability to produce a translation following professional standards, which will allow you to compete as a translator /communicator in the context of international organisations.

If there are no sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the school reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

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Based on two main international institutions, UN and EU, the module consists of a non-  language specific theoretical part, delivered in a classroom-based mode and a second part devoted to individual translation of various institutional texts  performed by the students and assessed  (formative assessment ) by the language specific tutors.  The students receive detailed feedback from their language-specific tutors remotely.

The module offers an Introduction to the UN and the EU and develops the students’   understanding of theoretical and practical aspects pertaining to translation in international organisations (LO1).
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Students then engage in text analysis and develop an understanding of institutional texts and their characteristics. They learn about (and acquire) the knowledge and skills required in the processing / decoding of various types of UN and EU texts. In those generic lectures students also explore the process involved in the translation of such texts as well as the strategies and procedures adopted in their transfer into the target language (LO2, LO3).

The newly acquired knowledge and skills are then put into practice through a series of translation assignments performed online by the students and assessed remotely by the language -specific tutor (formative assessment and feedback) (LO4).

Teaching and learning methods include classroom-based language-generic sessions and language-specific sessions delivered in a distance-learning mode.

Research by using textbooks, electronic databases, and e-learning materials (Weblearn), In addition to the contact time students are expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed study for the module and for the language-specific sessions.

There are no pdp requirements for this module.

On completing this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the skills necessary to translate institution specific LSP (language for special purposes) texts into their target language and according to professional standards

2. Identify and critically analyse relevant issues of translation theory, terminology, and research in a specialised field

3. Assess and apply strategies for solving more complex translation difficulties in and emerging from LSP and institution-specific texts and acquire an awareness of the impact of these translation strategies and decisions on the translated text as whole

4. Critically reflect on the translation process and produce translations of a high standard in a professional manner.

The module is assessed 100% by summative coursework

Coursework 1 (50%) (translation of a 1500-word UN text)
Coursework 2 (50%) (translation of a 1500-word EU text)

Opportunities for formative and/or diagnostic assessment and feedback: Students receive annotated translation (tutor feedback) and have an opportunity to discuss other aspects of institutional translation via WebLearn-based discussion board (peer feedback). Finally, students include a 500-word report in each coursework; the report reflects on the translation process focusing on challenges linked to the institutional nature of the text translated as part of the coursework.

Formative feedback: students receive formative feedback on their practice translation in their online weeks, as well as on their 500-word report from their module leader.
Summative feedback: students submit their coursework via Turnitin and receive feedback on it.

Timing of assessment to facilitate formative feedback and manage assessment workload for students (and assessors): Students received marked work in time to implement the feedback received to improve their translation project.

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/search.html?q=TR7084