PCTRSTEC - PG Certificate Translation Technology

The Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Technology is a vocational programme open to professional translators and suitably qualified graduates who wish to acquire translation technology-based knowledge and skills in order to complement or update their existing competencies and enhance their employability. The course provides training in Translation Tools, Localisation and Subtitling and equips students with competence to use translation technology and software. Training is offered in a range of language combinations including English into French, Italian and Spanish as well as French, Italian and Spanish into English. The course is taught in dedicated IT labs and uses professional translation software appreciated by the industry. Its structure (see below) is flexible to accommodate various student needs and learning styles, in line with the University core values of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility.

Digital learning plays a large part of the course strategy and its delivery. In addition to the use of Weblearn, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, teaching is also delivered through the use of translation technology, digital translation tools and software (CAT tools, terminology management tools, website translation tools, multimedia, and audio-visual software). Computers and translation software are easily accessible in IT labs and are equipped to work with the languages offered on the course. Many of the essential course textbooks and translation journals are available as e-books and therefore easily accessible.

The programme was devised in line with the FHEQ guidelines , the QAA Characteristics Statement for Master’s Degree , QAA subject benchmark statements for Languages, Cultures and Societies and translator training -specific criteria and guidelines such as The European Master’s in Translation Competence Framework 2017 and guidelines provided by the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

The course aims to deliver an academically rigorous programme of study, which provides students with the opportunity to study the major disciplines in translation technology and to relate these to the professional practice. To this end, the programme promotes the use of a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which develop the students’ intellectual abilities, self-confidence, and ability to study independently.

The course aims to:

• provide awareness of technological tools available for translators and required by the translation industry with a view to increasing students’ employability in the sector
• provide training on the use of information technology for information storage and retrieval and enable students to acquire the ability to critically evaluate available resources (such as terminology databases, glossaries, parallel texts, multilingual websites) and make sound judgements in the absence of complete data
• enable students to develop an understanding of the principles and methods of Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools as well as relevant practical skills so that students can act autonomously in implementing tasks requiring the use of these tools
• offer students an opportunity to acquire knowledge of general and specific processes and materials involved in the localisation of a specific product with regard to translation and other key aspects such as quality assurance and product management
• provide knowledge and understanding of general and specific challenges posed by the complex semiotic mix of linguistic and non-linguistic elements in audio-visual texts and faced by subtitling professionals with relation to space and time constraints, overlapping of dialogues, shot changes etc.
• harmonise with and contribute to the University ethos and core values, which encourage the development of learning technologies and blended learning, and is receptive to students’ needs and interests
• To provide tuition and training which will allow students to compete as translators/communicators in today’s commercial and industrial world
• To promote methods of learning and assessment which provide students with the opportunity to develop self-confidence and the ability to work both independently and co-operatively with others

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• develop familiarity with and ability to critically reflect on the role of technology in the translation industry and acquire the knowledge of the skills necessary to successfully implement translation technologies in actual translation work and competently consider when to use them appropriately (LO1)

• demonstrate the ability to select, evaluate and prepare complex translation tasks to a professional standard for inclusion in a range of assignments (LO2)

• successfully implement terminology management techniques and competently use translation memory, machine translation systems and other electronic tools (e.g. subtitling or localization) specific to research and language transfer (LO3)

• develop an awareness of and capacity to use appropriately translation strategies and techniques for solving translation problems arising specifically in specialised contexts of localisation and subtitling (LO4)

• develop analytical and problem-solving skills and competently use them when performing localisation and subtitling tasks as well as when commenting on performance (LO5).

• demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition, and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative, and socially responsible professionals in their discipline (ULO)

Subject Benchmark Statement. Languages, Cultures and Societies December 2019.

“In an increasingly interdependent world, it is essential to be able to work with other languages, cultures and societies. Courses and modules in this area equip students to thrive in a variety of environments, from the local to the global. They offer a fascinating variety of things to study and give better career and employment prospects to the next generation of transnational graduates, internationally mobile graduates who can work across cultures. Students are able to study languages, cultures and societies in single or combined honours degrees, as minor subjects or pathways, as elective modules alongside their main subject, and as extracurricular studies.”

Assessment strategy

The course assessment strategy is informed by the University and the School guidelines, staff expertise, feedback received from external examiners and from employers as well as from the accrediting professional body (the Chartered Institute of Linguists). The aim of assessment is firstly to monitor student learning and to enable students to learn from constructive feedback, address areas of improvement and consolidate learning acquired on the course. To achieve these aims the course team ensure that the following principles are embedded in designing and running assessment across modules.
• Students are assessed with a balanced diet of formative and summative methods and various assessment forms.
• Assessment is designed to ensure alignment with module outcomes and learning/ teaching strategy.
• Tasks used in assessment are set to evaluate relevant skills be they academic, professional, practical or theoretical.
• Assessment is appropriately scheduled so that it is manageable for students while being timely.
• Assessment is varied and inclusive in the sense that it is designed to address student diversity in terms of learning styles, abilities (practical translation tasks, commentaries and annotations on translation work, etc.).
• Feedback is comprehensive and constructive and provides opportunities for students to consolidate learning and improve performance
• Students receive timely feedback that enable them to discuss the outcome with their tutors, learn from their past performance and incorporate the new knowledge in their learning and their preparation of subsequent assignments. This is of particular importance to those who have to submit their work for reassessment.
• Student work is first marked according to clearly articulated and transparent criteria while moderation, both internal and external, ensures consistency of marking and adherence to quality standards.

Experiential learning is acquired through various activities and events scheduled on the course. In addition the guest speakers talks from the translation industry as well as by previous students now in employment in the translation industry and the field work visit to the EU Directorate General of Translation in Brussels, students attend employability workshops organised by the university and take part, while still in training, in translating real life projects, a valuable learning and confidence boosting experience and a professional achievement to include to their curriculum vitae.

Over 1 year
Autumn semester
TR7042 Translation Tools and the Translator core.
Spring semester
TR7057 Subtitling core
TR7089 Website and Software Localisation core

Or over 2 years
Year 1
Spring semester
TR7057 Subtitling core

Year 2
Autumn semester
TR7042 Translation Tools and the Translator core
Spring semester
TR7089 Website and Software Localisation core

Postgraduate Diploma in Translation:
To gain the Postgraduate Diploma in Translation, students need to take three other modules from the following: TR7085, TR7W01, TR7084, TR7087.

Reflective learning runs across the programme and is part and parcel of each module. It is included in various activities performed face to face in class or online on the University virtual learning platform and is tested in each piece of assessment, be it formative or summative. Students are indeed offered opportunities and encouraged to reflect on their learning when performing practical translations activities as well as when discussing translation performance in class. Reflective skills are also developed through commentaries on translation tasks.

The European Master’s in Translation Competence Framework 2017 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/emt_competence_fwk_2017_en_web.pdf

The Chartered Institute of Linguists
https://www.ciol.org.uk/

This course prepares students for career opportunities in Localisation and Subtitling as well as any translation work requiring the use of CAT tools with translation agencies, various institutions and companies and language service providers in general. The 60 credits awarded at the end of the course can be used for further career development.
The experiential learning mentioned above in section 19 will undoubtedly provide the students with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and awareness of the translator’s professional environment and of translation as a profession. It also enables students to further develop their soft skills such as CV writing, interview skills, work ethics, project management, communication, and business skills.

The knowledge and skills acquired on the course will enable students to enhance their translation competence thanks to the use of translation tools and will add to / diversify their areas of expertise. This will, in turn, enrich their professional profile and boost their employability.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Technology can also offer an opportunity to pursue further study and professional development through gaining a higher qualification in translation such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Translation or the MA
Translation.

Skilled translators are highly sought after. You could go on to work as a freelance translator or in-house for a translation agency, a private company or an international institution or corporation.

After completing this course, you could work as a translator, a specialist in subtitling or software and website localisation in a range of sectors such as business, advertising and the translation industry.

You could also choose to undertake further study on one of our below master’s degrees and progress to PhD level, or even consider teaching.

• Translation - MA
• Conference Interpreting - MA
• Interpreting - MA

You’ll be required to have:

• a relevant undergraduate degree with a minimum grade of 2:1 in either translation, interpreting, modern languages or a related field
• native knowledge of English
• near native proficiency in your chosen paired language

If you have extensive industry experience but no formal qualifications, you may still be considered following an interview and entry exam.

If you’re an international applicant, you’ll be required to have an IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no component score less than 6.0. You’ll also need to meet the DfE entry qualification requirements or equivalents.