CHIN 2213 - Translation for Chinese Speakers: Chinese-English

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course is to develop students' basic practical skills in translation from Chinese into English. It focuses on developing students' skills in applying knowledge and experience to their understanding, interpretation and production of texts of various genres. The course incorporates theoretical concepts with practice. It introduces different approaches to translation to help students be aware of their own perceptions of translation and translation process. It exposes students to the features and requirements of text production for different genres in both Chinese and English and to translation practice in various areas that is relevant to everyday life, including society, business and trade, law and media. Students also have an opportunity to use computer-based skills and the internet for translation purposes.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHIN 2213
    Course Translation for Chinese Speakers: Chinese-English
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites Native or near native Chinese language proficiency (including Chinese dialects) or successful completion of CHIN 3212 Chinese IIISB or equivalent
    Incompatible CHIN 1002, CHIN 2202, CHIN 3302 & CHIN 3212
    Assumed Knowledge Completion of junior secondary school in China or Chinese-speaking countries or regions or equivalent, with native or near native Chinese language proficiency (including Chinese dialects)
    Course Description This course is to develop students' basic practical skills in translation from Chinese into English. It focuses on developing students' skills in applying knowledge and experience to their understanding, interpretation and production of texts of various genres. The course incorporates theoretical concepts with practice. It introduces different approaches to translation to help students be aware of their own perceptions of translation and translation process. It exposes students to the features and requirements of text production for different genres in both Chinese and English and to translation practice in various areas that is relevant to everyday life, including society, business and trade, law and media. Students also have an opportunity to use computer-based skills and the internet for translation purposes.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Delia Lin

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1 recognise both simplified and traditional characters for translation purposes
    2 switch between Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanisation systems for translation purposes
    3 understand the information conveyed in the source text for different contexts/genres
    4 understand the complex social and cultural messages embedded in the source text
    5 express understood meaning in the target language for different contexts/genres
    6 write in appropriate styles, free from grammatical and other errors, and taking into account the linguistic, socio-cultural and other factors associated with the source language text and the target language text
    7 diagnose mistranslation and loss of meaning in translation
    8 articulate/communicate one’s own translation process, including contrastive linguistic analysis involved, choice of vocabulary, problem-solving strategies etc
    9 engage in collaborative work and use the Internet to solve problems encountered in translation
    10 recognise and understand ethical issues in professional and intellectual contexts of translation
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-10
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1-10
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-10
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1-10
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 9
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-10
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1-10
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Course reader (available on enrolment in the course) which contains the set readings for each week.
    Recommended Resources
    An English–Chinese Dictionary and a Chinese–English dictionary

    Students are permitted to use dictionaries (excluding electronic dictionaries) at exams and tests.
    Online Learning
    The MyUni site will be used to announce upcoming curricular and extra curricula events and host supplementary material. Important notices will also be emailed to you on a regular basis, via MyUni announcements. It is each individual student's responsibility to check your Adelaide University e-mail account messages regularly and go to MyUni and if necessary, download MyUni course materials/information.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Classes are conducted with an interactive approach. Sample texts of translation are discussed in tutorials following the introduction and practice of translation techniques as well as analysis of language features of Chinese and English in lectures.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    1 x 2-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester
    1 x 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week 12 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week 72 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Introduction
    Week 2 Translation as a process and approaches to translation; introduction to
    Chinese Romanisation systems; translating names, titles and certificates
    Week 3 Translation standards/requirements; the problem of Chinglish; simplified
    vs traditional characters; writing and translating signs and notices
    Week 4 Differences between Chinese and English; business letter format; translating letters
    Week 5 Complexity of meaning; the word order; translating education
    Week 6 Active and passive voices; translating the business world
    Week 7 Translation strategies
    Week 8 Quiz
    Week 9 Translating for legal purposes
    Week 10 Translating addresses and speeches
    Week 11 Translating news reports
    Week 12 Translating fiction; NAATI
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Small group discovery is an integral part of the learning process. Techniques such as Think-Pair-Share will be used regularly in tutorials. Accumulative snow-balling techniques will be used to learn complex concepts and texts. The translation assignment and oral presentation will be completed in pairs.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task Task type Weighting Course learning outcomes
    Participation Formative and summative 10% 1-10
    Oral presentation Formative and summative 10% 1-10
    Translation assignment Formative and summative 20% 1-10
    In-class quiz Formative and summative 20% 1-8, 10
    Final exam Summative 40% 1-8, 10
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials. There are no supplementary tests for assessments other than the final exam. Students who have missed an assessment due to medical or compassionate reasons and who have notified the course coordinator/tutor prior to the assessment will be given an average mark based on the results of other assessments. Those who do not turn up for assessments without medical or compassionate reasons will be given no marks.
    Assessment Detail
    Participation: students are required to actively participate in learning activities in lectures and tutorials - 10% weighting

    Translation assignment: students are required to work in pairs to translate an article with a particular genre - 20% weighting

    Oral presentation: students in pairs will give a 10 minute oral presentation in English to reflect on their translation process - 10% weighting

    In-class quiz: quiz on all aspects of translation - 20% weighting

    Final exam: covers all areas of the course - 40% weighting
    Submission
    Assignments are submitted electronically via MyUni.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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