Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2009-2010 (archived)

Module RUSS3381: RUSSIAN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

Department: Modern Language and Cultures (Russian)

RUSS3381: RUSSIAN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2009/10 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Russian Language 2A (RUSS2191) OR Russian Language 2B (RUSS2012)

Corequisites

  • Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: Russian Language 4 (RUSS3031) OR Russian Language 4 following Year Abroad (RUSS3211). Others: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Students may take up to a total of three Translation/Interpreting modules in MLAC, but no more than two translation modules, selected from Translation Theory (MELA3111), Spanish Translation (SPAN3131), Italian Translation (ITAL3121), French Translation (FREN3051), German Interpreting (GERM3041), French Interpreting (FREN3331) and Russian Translating and Interpreting (RUSS3381). Students may NOT take both French Interpreting (FREN3331) and German Interpreting (GERM3041).

Aims

  • To develop skills in consecutive and liaison interpreting, supported by preparation in conference note-taking.
  • To develop skills in textual translation from Russian to English

Content

  • Each strand will be divided into the same four thematic/lexical areas, ensuring an element of both focus and depth, and taht work done in one strand will re-inforce the other. The four thematic areas will be: Politics, Foreign Policy, Trade and Culture

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students will enhance hteir practical knowledge of Russian politics, foreign affairs, business and culture through textual preparation for interpreting and through translation from Russian to English
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students will further develop their ability to translate from Russian to English a range of texts across four subject areas/lexical domains; in parallel, they will acquire particular skills in conference note-taking and consecutve and liaison interpreting by working with material in the same thematic and lexical areas.
Key Skills:
  • Students will develop key skills relevant to the professional language environment, as well as further developing the ability to work individually or as part of a team in response to a range of time-specific tasks.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Both 'strands' of the course will be delivered in the form of weekly practicals:
  • Russian - English translation will be classroom based and vary between work on seen and unseen texts;
  • Interpreting will be laboratory based, and focus on 'live' tasks on the basis of advance lexical and thematic preparation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Practicals 42 Twice weekly 1 hour 42
Preparation, Reading and Assessment 158
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Examination 2 hours 100% No
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Interpreting Examination 30 minutes 100% No

Formative Assessment:

Textual translation from Russian into English will require 8 seen and 4 unseen pieces to be submitted over the course of the year; interpreting will incorporate three formative 'mock' examination pieces, one in each term.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University