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2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MODL5383M Business Interpreting

15 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Lihong Pan
Email: L.Pan1@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Business interpreting refers to various interpreting tasks undertaken in business settings. International and multi-national corporations increasingly employ interpreters with specific business interpreting competences in order to conduct their activities. As a result, it is an increasingly important aspect of the interpreting profession and interpreters’ skill-set.The module will introduce students to the skills and knowledge required for interpreting for various occasions in the field of business interpreting. This will include, but not be limited to, business visits, negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, board meetings and other occasions of business interpreting.Students will also apply the skills of note-taking, deverbalisation, recall and other skills to various interpreting modes employed in business interpreting.

Objectives

The main objectives of this module are to enable the students to develop the necessary skills for successful interpreting as well as the ability to research and assimilate the data and knowledge required in business interpreting assignments of various kinds. The focus here will be on the development of specific techniques that support effective target-language reconstruction, such as note-taking for consecutive and liaison modes, speech analysis and deverbalisation, and code- and register-switching to meet the needs of specific audiences and clients. The module also equips students with strategies for efficient research and preparation for interpreting assignments in various fields of business and with an appreciation of the norms of professional presentation and behavior. Finally, the module develops basic awareness and understanding of various fields of business and commerce in which interpreters are employed.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- demonstrate an awareness of the professional norms and expectations for performance in business interpreting settings;
- efficiently research and prepare for interpreting assignments of various kinds in the field of business interpreting;
- proficiently take notes to support liaison and consecutive interpreting;
- interpret effectively in the liaison and consecutive interpreting modes;
- deliver clear, accurate and well-analysed renditions of the clients' and interlocutors' discourse.


Syllabus

Students will be introduced to the practical considerations of the business interpreting market.

As a practical, hands-on module, students will be introduced to authentic materials from a range of recorded, live and written sources and engage in activities in which they will develop the skills introduced by the tutors. Regular, targeted and specific feedback will be provided by the tutor(s) in class for the students to further develop in their private study. Exercises will take the form of summaries, presentations, role-plays, sight translations and other, skill-relevant exercises.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Group learning182.0036.00
Practical92.0018.00
Private study hours96.00
Total Contact hours54.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

Students will be required to prepare for each class through private study by undertaking desk research using online and print sources – with regard to both interpreting theory and the specific subject areas covered.

Specific guidance will also be given to support and structure student-led group learning to build upon the practical, tutor-led work done in class.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

As the class is skills-based/performance-based, a week-by-week/class-by-class formative appraisal can be made by the tutor over the course of the in-class contact hours.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Oral PresentationInterpreting task simulating a business scenario with the student required to interpret bilaterally. The assessment will last 20-30 minutes in total.100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Resits will be assessed by the same methods as the first attempt.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 30/06/2021 16:23:59

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