Competencies and objectives

 

Course context for academic year 2017-18

Core-curricular module which aims at presenting the theoretical basis of interpreting and introducing its main practical and professional aspects. Against this backdrop, the main interpreting techniques (sight translation, dialogic and monologic consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting) and genres where those techniques could be applied (conference and public service interpreting) will be presented. Given the predominantly practical and applied approach followed, attendance is compulsory).
Incoming mobility students: this module requires a high command of both Spanish and English. Those international students who want to take this module should have a high level of oral competence in Spanish (C1) and a similar level in English. International students who are not native speakers of English or coming from institutions where English is not the language of instruction, are recommended to take the parallel module offered for French/German as B language, as appropriate. Please refer to the course leaders in any case. The mail goal of the module is to train interpreters, not to teach Spanish. It is not possible to accommodate all international students in the module and preference will be given to those students who, on return to their home institutions, will be taking interpreting courses. Those students who have already received initial interpreter training should consider the possibility of taking higher level modules (Interpreting II and Interpreting III)

 

 

Course content (verified by ANECA in official undergraduate and Master’s degrees)

General Competences (CG)

  • CG1 : Ability to communicate in the different working languages: languages A (Catalan/Spanish, Level C2 of the European framework), languages B (Level B2/C1), languages C (Level B1/B2 for languages that are taught in secondary education and Level A2/B1 for those not taught in secondary education) and languages D (Level A1/A2). Ability to communicate (oral and written) is understood to refer to understanding and expression and includes grammatical subcompetence (mastery of the linguistic code), sociolinguistic subcompetence (regulates adaptation to the context and is linked with the linguistic variation occurring according the different register elements), pragmatic subcompetence (related to functional use of the language and mastery of discourse, cohesion and coherence). Communicative competence must include at least two languages and cultures (includes passive and active communication stages, as well as the textual conventions of different working cultures and the corresponding cultural, encyclopaedic and thematic knowledge).
  • CG2 : Instrumental competence. Includes the use of documentary sources, terminology search and the management of glossaries, databases, etc., and also the use of the most useful computer applications for exercising the profession (text editors, desktop publishers, databases, Internet, e-mail, translation and editing programmes, translation memories, etc.), as well as other tools such as the fax, dictaphone and the mechanisms and apparatus needed for interpreting booths, etc.).
  • CG3 : Competence to exercise the profession on the labour and deontological market, consisting of the knowledge and skills related to acting as a professional translator and the job market. Includes basic knowledge for managing one's professional practice and factors associated with public and private law, the economy and business (contracts, tax obligations, budgets, financial aspects, invoicing, etc.) and with the deontological code and professional associations. Also such skills as memory, reflexes, creativity, capacities such as trustworthiness, attention span, organisation and planning, memory, capacity for analysis and synthesis, automation of the most common tasks, decision-making, interest in a job well done and a professional approach, the ability to adapt to new situations, initiative, etc. In addition, interpersonal skills such as the ability to relate with others and professional teamwork, not only with other translators and professionals in the field (proof-readers, documentalists, terminologists), but also with clients, initiators, authors, users and experts in the subjects being translated, etc.
  • CG4 : Competence in transference or strategy, understood as the ability to carry out the transference process from the original text and re-express it in the mother tongue according to the purpose of the translation, the characteristics of the recipient and other parameters of the translation project for all kinds of general and specialised texts. Includes subcompetences relating to the procedures applied for organising the work involved, identifying and solving problems and self-assessment, documentation strategies and the ability to use procedures to compensate for deficiencies in other subcompetences and solve problems during the translation process.

 

Specific Competences (CE):>>For CG1

  • CE1.1 : Understand all kinds of texts (oral and written), both general and specialised (languages A, B and C), in the corresponding working language.
  • CE1.10 : Develop communicative strategies.
  • CE1.14 : Develop linguistic knowledge from contrasting elements.
  • CE1.15 : Evaluate multilingual and cultural diversity positively.
  • CE1.16 : Understand general aspects of the sociocultural contexts of the languages studied.
  • CE1.2 : Express oneself orally and in writing about general and specialist subjects (languages A, B and C).
  • CE1.6 : Produce oral and written texts adapted to the communication function, type of register, etc.
  • CE1.8 : Learn to use general works of consultation correctly and autonomously (grammars, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, reference manuals, etc.).

 

Specific Competences (CE):>>For CG2

  • CE2.1 : Use computer resources and applications that are useful for translation (terminology management programs, translation memories, CAT or automatic programs, databases, search engines, etc.).
  • CE2.2 : Master information and document search techniques.
  • CE2.3 : Master basic interpreting instruments and tools.

 

Specific Competences (CE):>>For CG3

  • CE3.10 : Develop the capacity for logical and critical reasoning.
  • CE3.11 : Develop cognitive skills related to interpreting (attention span, instant comprehension, memory, rapid reflexes, physical and mental stamina, capacity for self-criticism, etc.).
  • CE3.12 : Develop the desire for rigor, quality and a professional approach to one's work.

 

Specific Competences (CE):>>For CG4

  • CE4.3 : Assimilate the communicative purpose of translation, the importance of quality in the target language and the importance of the comprehension stage.
  • CE4.5 : Assimilate the importance of extralinguistic knowledge and the need for documentation.
  • CE4.9 : Assimilate the methodological principles of interpreting.

 

 

 

Learning outcomes (Training objectives)

No data

 

 

Specific objectives stated by the academic staff for academic year 2017-18

In this module students will be introduced to the main interpreting genres and techniques, as well as to the most salient professional aspects. The main goal is to make students aware of the specificities of interpreting as an expert activity which allows for oral linguistic mediation. Students will progressively acquire a series of skills and competences that will allow them to successfully perform low/medium difficulty interpreting assignments. These assignments will primarily require the use of consecutive interpreting (both monologic and dialogic) and sight translation (also as a preparation for simultaneous interpreting in further stages). Attention will also be paid to the development of skills for making oral presentations in public.

 

 

;

General

Code: 32635
Lecturer responsible:
ORTEGA HERRAEZ, JUAN MIGUEL
Credits ECTS: 6,00
Theoretical credits: 0,60
Practical credits: 1,80
Distance-base hours: 3,60

Departments involved

  • Dept: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING
    Area: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING
    Theoretical credits: 0,6
    Practical credits: 1,8
    This Dept. is responsible for the course.
    This Dept. is responsible for the final mark record.

Study programmes where this course is taught