TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING STUDIES DISSERTATION - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module is designed to enable students to consolidate and further advance the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught components of the programme, and gain experience working independently on an extended proejct through one of the following options:

• Research on a Translation or Interpreting Studies topic with dissertation;


• An extend translation with an analytical commentary or an interpreting simulation with an analytical commentary;


• A work placement of at least 150 hours accompanied by a critical report. If taking this option, it is the responsibility of students to find a professional placement approved by CTS (this includes volunteer translation and a range of ad hoc language-industry activities carried out during the academic year). CTS will support students in finding a placement through professional engagement portfolios, invited seminar talks and a dedicated language industries careers fair.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

GOUGH Joanna (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Approved dissertation/project proposal or placement

Module content

• Workshops to guide students with regard to compliance with academic standards and the selection of appropriate dissertation projects
• Individual feedback on the suitability of project proposals
• Guidelines on the specifications of the dissertations, extended translations or interpreting simulations with analytical commentaries, and work placements and reports
• One-to-one supervisory meetings.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently


• Ability to apply the skills and knowledge developed during the programme in an extended translation/interpreting project


• Ability to discuss and critically reflect on their practice as translators, interpreters or researchers


• Ability to produce original written work commensurate with the MA level and in compliance with academic standards

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of one of the following (please refer to your respectice MA programme):

MA Interpreting

• A dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%); this is a topic-based option;

OR

• An interpreting simulation with analytical commentary of 10,000-12,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%); this is an interpreting project option;

MA Translation and Interpreting

• A dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%); this is a topic-based pathway

OR

• An interpreting simulation with analytical commentary of 10,000-12,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%); this is an interpreting project option.

OR

• An extended translation with an analytical commentary of 10,000-12,000 words; this a translation project option;

MA Translation

• A dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%); this is a topic-based option;

OR

• An extended translation with an analytical commentary of 10,000-12,000 words; this a translation project option;

OR

• A work placement of a minimum of 150 hours with a critical report of 8,000-10,000 words, addressing learning outcomes 1-6 (100%)

Formative assessment

Students will receive individual guidance on their extended translation/interpreting project and will discuss the development of their work with a supervisor designated to them.

Feedback

As a default, the same form of formative feedback is provided to all students, irrespective of the dissertation type they choose: 6hrs of seminars in Semester 2 and 4hrs of proposal and dissertation draft feedback (end of semester 2 and summer period). Dissertation writing seminars entail a combination of peer feedback and tutor guidance; feedback on the proposal entails dedicated feedback on the project outline submitted by students; individual supervision sessions focus on discussing progress with an allocated supervisor and offering dedicated feedback on drafts of dissertation chapters and extended translation/interpreting projects (e.g. translation/transcript samples).

MA Translation students who take the work placement option may receive some additional mentoring by workplace supervisors, although this may be depend on the nature of the placement and will be determined on a case by case basis. All students on work placement, however, will still have supervisors at university and will receive the normal level of support as the rest of the students: dedicated feedback on the project outline submitted; individual supervision sessions to discuss progress with an allocated supervisor and dedicated feedback on samples on report exceprts.

Students will also receive written feedback on their final submissions.

Module aims

• Guide students along the identification and selection of an appropriate research topic or a translation/interpreting project or work placement
• Encourage students to discuss and assess the relevance and suitability of their choices critically
• Advise students on the feasibility of their options to ensure they are manageable and achievable within the scope of an MA project
• Provide an opportunity for students to gain experience working independently on an extended translation/interpreting-related project
• Offer an opportunity for students to discuss issues related to their project with a supervisor
• Guide students along the production of an extended piece of written academic work
• Enable students to synthesize and further develop the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the academic year

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Consolidate and further develop skills and knowledge acquired throughout the academic year


• Stimulate critical thinking and independent work


• Develop time-management and interpersonal skills

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Independent work (590 hours)


• For students opting for a professional placement dissertation, CTS will provide support whenever possible through its network of industry contacts and extracurricular activities, such as building a professional engagement portfolio (see Semester 1 TRAM493 and Semester 2 TRAM494 modules), attending seminars with external speakers throughout the academic year, and participating in a language industry careers fair organized by CTS in Semester 2. Additionally, students will be directed to further support from the University’s Employability and Careers initiative.


• Workshops (6 hours) as orientation for projects  


• Workshops (4 hours) to offer guidance on academic conventions 

Advice from personal tutors on placement opportunities throughout the academic year and individual consultation and discussion during agreed supervision meetings.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TRAM505

Other information

Additional costs may be incurred within the Dissertation module if the work placement is opted for. Additional costs may include, inter alia, travel to and from the workplace, any required accommodation and related subsidiary costs. The amount may be variable and it is not included in the fees.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.