TRANSLATION WORKSHOP I (ENGLISH TO CHINESE) - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module provides two internally connected components.
Firstly, it provides students with detailed methodological procedures and specific guidance of solving problems related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. This part focuses on the grammatical differences between English and Chinese languages from the lexical and syntactic levels, and how such differences impact translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. Specific techniques of translation will be explained and illustrated with hand-picked examples, enabling students to confront a wide range of challenges of translating words and sentences caused by the lack of equivalence between English and Chinese languages and cultures.
Secondly, the module introduces students to the practices and techniques of translating different types of texts from English to Chinese as carried out in authentic settings, e.g. translating for corporates, governments, technical companies, etc. This module focuses on preparing students for professional translation work through linguistic, conceptual and terminological research practice and producing documents to professional specifications.

Module provider

Literature & Languages

Module Leader

WANG Fang (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Translation of words, expressions and sentences that reflect specific challenges in English-Chinese translation, where different translation solutions are analysed with reference to the principles of Translation Studies and best practices in the industry. Translation of authentic texts that reflect specific challenges and demands of language service provision from English into Chinese, covering a range of domains. These can include tourism, corporate translation, technical manuals, government reports, legal texts, etc.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

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

• The ability to translate to an acceptable level of professional competence authentic texts from English into Chinese.


• The ability to employ relevant problem-solving strategies, make informed translation decisions and justify the choices.

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Mid-semester English-Chinese translation assignment, 40%, 500 words (addresses learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 5).


• End-of-Semester English-Chinese translation assignment, 60%, 500 words (addresses learning outcomes: 3, 4, 5).

The formative assessment
Students will receive regular translation and translation-related tasks to practice and learn during the semester.
Feedback
Students are incentivized and are free to submit work done in class or in independent study for individual feedback. All exercises are discussed and revised in class. Tutors will give scores to both assignments and provide detailed feedback.

Module aims

• Understand typical types of challenges related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences caused by lack of linguistic and cultural equivalence between English and Chinese and employ relevant problem-solving translation strategies and solutions targeting specific types of challenges, whilst using AI tools in the translation workflow in an effective way.
• Analyse and translate textual genres that are typical of the English-Chinese translation market, and employ relevant problem-solving strategies and solutions, knowledgeably discussing and justifying translation decisions in accordance with the best practices in the industry through attending regular, practical tutor-led workshops.
• Gain a thorough understanding of the role of the professional translator in English-Chinese translation activities through tutor guidance.
• Be able to question own assumptions, recognize and develop professional and personal strengths and enhance employability.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the language services sector, with a particular focus on prospective roles within the sector.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Facilitate a holistic approach to knowledge and skills acquisition through providing a broad experience of translation and translation challenges to facilitate the development of flexible problem-solving strategies.


• Stimulate classroom discussions on source text analysis, English-Chinese translation strategies and comparative target text solutions by offering a wide range of exercises in English and Chinese languages, maximising the applicability of the learnt procedures to the students’ experience.


• Encourage a critical approach to translation solutions by exposing students to knowledge and technical resources that enable them to make efficient and effective translation decisions.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Seminars that offer opportunities for tutor explain techniques and skills of coping with translation challenges with hand-picked examples in English-Chinese translations.


• Workshops that offer opportunities for students to be engaged English-Chinese translations, as well as group and whole-class discussions and tutor feedback.


• Self-study, which consists of working on texts or participating in extra-curricular activities that may feed into the professional engagement portfolio.

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: TRAM509

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas: 
Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is one of the compulsory modules for the taught part of the programme MA Translation Chinese Pathway in Semester 1. It enables students to gain an in-depth understanding of the differences between English and Chinese languages from both lexical, syntactic and style levels through tutor’s explanations and illustrations with carefully selected examples. Students will be encouraged to explore how such differences will impact English-Chinese translations and what typical challenges might be frequently encountered through classroom discussions and tutor-led evaluation of their translation practice. The focus of this module is to show students how to cope with each type of challenge in translation with detailed methodological steps and provide students with scaffolded learning when needed. This module is closely linked to modules where systematic text analysis of translation takes place, as well as practical translation modules on the programme where students are trained to gain basic skills and abilities to identify challenges and learn coping-strategies for translating in this specific language pair.
Digital capabilities. Specialist digital resources and how to use such resources will also be explained with sufficient examples. Practical work in the module explores the efficient use of digital skills in research and information processing tasks.
Employability. This module is designed to equip students with the linguistic, translation, technological, business and interpersonal and soft skills needed for a successful career in the language services industry. At the end of the module, students will be able to apply specific strategies and techniques to solve translation problems from English into Chinese and to produce documents to professional specifications. At the end of this module, students will have developed adaptation skills by working in challenges that prepare them for a sustainable career in a demanding language industry.
Global and Cultural Capabilities. This module plays a central role in the educational experience of students of the MA Chinese Translation program. The topics of environmental and economic sustainability are addressed in practical translation exercises, where students are asked to work with specialised texts (scientific, technical) or less specialised (popular science, media) which overtly address these thematic areas (Sustainability).  Communication skills, editing skills and client- and audience responsibility developed in the module are directly linked to the role of translators as enablers or global communication across communities and cultures. The module offers useful generalisations after conducting comparative analysis in language usage, culture, translation practice between English and Chinese and norm-supported professional behaviour.

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 2025/6 academic year.