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Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PL50815: Spanish/English public service interpreting

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: EX 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
This unit is designed to equip students with the full range of skills and techniques in public service interpreting that are required for work in this particular field. The aim is to maximise each student's potential so that as many as possible of the group achieve the standard necessary for professional work.

Learning Outcomes:
After completing the unit, students will have assimilated all the principles and techniques of this area of work. They will therefore have developed an understanding of the professional context in which public service interpreting takes place, enabling them to tackle a wide range of interpreting assignments with confidence and success. Students will also have gained a comprehensive understanding of the role of public service interpreters and their relationship with particular clients or users, together with a critical awareness of the kind of ethical issues that are likely to arise in the course of their professional work.
In practice, they will be able to function successfully as liaison and public service interpreters in a range of specialised environments.

Skills:
Public service interpreting is an exercise in direct communication between individuals that involves transferable key skills such as listening, analysing arguments, oral expression and an awareness of one's own performance. The main intellectual skill developed in this unit is the ability to switch rapidly between language directions while acting as intermediary in a sophisticated dialogue, applying linguistic knowledge so as to deliver a satisfactory performance for the clients or users.
After completing the unit, students will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, decision-making in complex situations and independent learning ability.
All these skills are developed progressively through classwork, constructive feedback and working in groups between classes.

Content:
This unit builds on the knowledge and skills acquired through the liaison interpreting units in Semester 1. It continues to develop students' technique, confidence and ability to deal with a wide range of realistic work situations. Immigration, police/court and medical contexts are among those covered. Within these fields, selected specialist areas are explored with an emphasis on teaching students how to research terminology and build glossaries, working in teams where appropriate. The ethical dilemmas and cultural issues that can result from the use of interpreters will also be discussed. Interpreting skills are practised through role-play scenarios that are defined in advance, allowing preliminary research by the interpreters. The TV studio is used frequently as a venue, and performances are videotaped for later analysis by the students and their instructors.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PL50815 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Spanish) (Full-time)

PL50815 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - French & Spanish) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - German & Spanish) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Italian & Spanish) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Spanish) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (German & Spanish) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Italian & Spanish) (Full-time)

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.