CHIN 2215 - English-Chinese Translation for Chinese Speakers

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

This course is designed to further develop students? linguistic skills and knowledge of modern standard Mandarin Chinese through translation exercises. It consists of tuition in Chinese and English syntax and semantics as well as translation practice. Methods of comparative study in both language and cultures, and analysis of Chinese and English grammatical features and characteristics will be applied in classroom and students? exercises.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHIN 2215
    Course English-Chinese Translation for Chinese Speakers
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites CHIN 2213 or native or near native Chinese language proficiency (including Chinese dialects)
    Incompatible CHIN 3221
    Assessment Seminar translation task, Translation Project, Translation Project Presentation, Final Test
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Ning Zhang

    Office: 640 Kenneth Wills Building, North Tce Campus
    Ph: 8313 4281
    Email: ning.zhang@adelaide.edu.au
    Consultation hours: Please see course information on MyUni
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. understand the general theoretical issues in translation.
    2. recognise basic syntactical and semantic differences and characteristics between English and Chinese
    3. understand the information conveyed in the source text for different contexts.
    4. understand and respect socio-cultural differences and diversity through translation texts.
    5. diagnose mistranslation and loss of meaning in translation.
    6. engage in collaborative work and use paper references and online resources to solve problems in translation practice.
    7. 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)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-5, 7

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    5-6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3-5, 7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    4-5, 7

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    4

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    3-5

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    4, 6, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Course readings available on MyUni
    Recommended Resources
    Chinese & English dictionaries

    Students are permitted to use paper dictionaries at exams and tests.
    Online Learning
    Pre-recorded online lecture is provided per week. Students must view the pre-recorded online lecture before the tutorial class each week.

    Tests for translation practice for each week's tutorial will be uploaded on MyUni one week in advance. Students must prepare the translation and bring the translation to tutorial class for discussion.

    The MyUni site will be used to announce upcoming curricula and extra curricula activities and events.

    Students are expected to check MyUni regularly for course materials and information.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The one-hour tutorials are conducted with an interactive approach. Sample texts of translation are discussed in tutorials on the topic and translation techniques that are introduced in the online lecture each week.
    Workload

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

    1 x 2-hour pre-recorded online lecture per week          24 hours per semester
    1 x 1 hour tutorial each week                                     12 hours per semester
    6 hours of reading and practice per week                     72 hours per semester
    2 hours of research per week                                      24 hours per semester
    2 hours of assignment/exercise preparation per week   24 hours per semester
    Total Workload                                                     156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week 1           Introduction
    Week 2           Cross-culture awareness
    Week 3           Translation and culture; comparing linguistic and thinking patterns between Chinese and English
    Week 4           Literal translation and semantic translation
    Week 5           Equivalence and equivalent effect
    Week 6           Translation for communication purposes
    Week 7           Translation Techniques
    Week 8           Translating metaphors
    Week 9           Group presentation
    Week 10         Group presentation
    Week 11         Group presentation
    Week 12         Test/ Quiz
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials.
    Students who have missed a formative assessment and would like to request for an extension to the deadline/ replacement assessment must contact their course coordinator and lodge an application for extension/ replacement test in compliance with the University's MACA policy. The policy and forms can be found at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/ . All applications for extension of deadline or replacement test must be submitted within the time limit required by the policy.
  • 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


    Translation for seminars 30%
    Translation Project 30%
    Translation project presentation 10%
    Final test 30%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students are expected to view pre-recorded online lectures before attending tutorials each week.

    Students who have missed regular exercises for medical or compassionate reasons should notify the course coordinator before or immediately after the tutorial time, and the mark for that mentioned case can be waived.
    For the tests, translation project, project presentation, and final test, request for extension of submission or replacement test, the student must lodge an application for extension/replacement test in compliance with the University's MACA policy. The policy and forms can be found at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/. All applications for an extension of the deadline or replacement test must be submitted to the course coordinator within the time limit required by the policy.

    Failure to follow the regulations above will lead to no marks for the assessment.


    Assessment Detail

    Assessment in this course is criteria-based, i.e. the desired learning outcomes are specified and are designed to indicate progress towards the learning outcomes. The assessment grade is a measure of the extent to which the student has achieved the learning outcomes. The standard of performance required for the award of a particular grade is a judgement based on the professional expertise of the staff who contribute to the assessment process and is informed by experience of accepted standards.


    A. Translation for Seminars  (30%)

    Students are required to engage in the course and prepare for tutorials by
    1. translating a short passage (250 words x 7 weeks)
    2. identify issues in translating processes and bring questions to tutorials;
    3. Actively engaging in tutorial discussions and producing quality work of translation by demonstrating a) understanding of the original text and social-cultural aspects in the original text, b) proper use of structures, grammar, and expressions, c) application of translation techniques and skills learned in class, and d) original contribution to the translation work.

    B. Translation Project (30%)

    Students will group up at the beginning of the semester. Each group shall work together on a research topic. Each student will submit a project report (1300 words) consisting of 2 parts. Part 1 is a general description of the group work, including topic, question, problems, methods and work distribution, etc. All members of a group can share the same mark for this part. Part 2 reports on the student's findings and conclusions. Each student may be given a different mark for this part.

    C. Translation Project Presentation (10%)

    In week 9, 10 and 11, each translation project group is to give a 9 -minute oral presentation (equivalent to 3 minutes per student/ 600 words) in English to highlight the findings of their project research. And each student will be marked individually for their presentation, which highlights both group and individual research efforts.

    The main criteria for the oral presentation assessment include:
    1. Demonstrated knowledge in the translation process, translation requirements and translation methods;
    2. Demonstrated ability to articulate and communicate one’s own translation process and techniques;
    3. Demonstrated competence in identifying and solving problems

    D. Final Test (30%)

    There will be a written test at the end of the semester. The test will be around 1,300 words.
    The main criteria used for assessment include:
    1. Evidence of ability to recognise basic syntactic and semantic differences and characteristics between the English language and the Chinese language.
    2. Demonstrated ability to understand and apply basic theories and techniques in translation.
    3. Evidence of ability to comprehend the original text in English.
    4. Demonstrated ability to use complex and varied structures in Chinese written form.


    Submission
    The written test will be submitted in class. Group translation text for the oral presentation will be submitted through Turnitin on MyUni by Week 9.

    Late submission will incur penalty with 2 percentage points deducted from the mark for each day to a maximum of 7 days (including weekends and public holidays) according to the Faculty's late assignment policy.

    https://arts.adelaide.edu.au/system/files/2019-07/Arts_late_assignment_policy.pdfLinks to an external site.

    For work with a formal extension, these penalties will apply from the extended due date.

    Work will not be accepted after the cut-off date (7 days from the due date including weekends and public holidays), and a mark of zero will automatically be awarded for the assignment.
    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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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