| Unit name | The Translation Industry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM2017 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Fricker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
In the context of a dynamic, heterogeneous and unregulated industry, new entrants into the profession will benefit from a systematic overview of current employment and business trends. Your entrepreneurial activity will be more effective – and hopefully also more enjoyable – once you realise how many amazing things translators can do. You will be able to offer a more carefully crafted portfolio of services, and approach potential clients with greater confidence.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The unit is a bridge from our postgraduate programme into your future career.
An overview of content
This unit provides a survey of current language industry trends, focusing on the increasing variety of roles that translators work in, the needs they meet, and the business skills through which they establish themselves professionally. The unit pays particular attention to the (human, corporate, institutional and discursive) drivers of technological change, evolving notions of translation and service quality, and the nature and significance of professional standards.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Translation is sometimes said to be an invisible craft, and translators are often reluctant to highlight the many ways in which their work can be useful (and beautiful too!). The unit will boost your professional confidence and help you be an effective advocate for translation overall and for the specific services you are able to offer your clients.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit, you will be able to:
The unit comprises both analytical and practical professional work. Course work consists of research, participation in discussions and one presentation. The first part of the unit revolves around a set of activities or topics to be researched. Deliverables include messages with your findings, messages with your comments on other students’ findings, and a recorded presentation. As a learning group, we will discuss everybody’s findings together, and your tutor will contribute analyses (as well as anecdotes) from their own professional experience. You may consider these discussions part of your networking experience too! As such, the unit mirrors many of the activities you will carry out in your professional practice as well.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Writing up and presenting through a recorded video the results of your research on set questions, and applying these to your own career ambitions.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Portfolio (100%) [ILOs 1-3], comprising
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM2017).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
