MA Conference Interpreting and Translation

Program Overview

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MA Conference Interpreting and Translation (Chinese-English) should interest you if you want to build your language proficiency in Chinese and English and further develop the translation and interpreting techniques that are required by employers. This 1-year programme offers you the opportunity to develop the high-level conference interpreting and translation skills which you will need as a professional in the Language Services Industry. The focus of the programme is to provide students with a comprehensive conference interpreting training during which they will be able to develop specialised consecutive and simultaneous interpreting skills as well as bilateral interpreting, technologies of translation, transcreation skills etc. Building on our internationally recognised expertise in the teaching of practical foreign language skills, our course offers written translation, oral interpreting and film and video subtitling in a single programme. By the end of your studies, you will have developed the practical language and key skills necessary for employment in professional translation, interpreting and subtitling. Our course will build on the knowledge and skills you acquired in your previous studies, and is unique in the emphasis it places on hands-on training. With the help of native speakers, you learn how to use your language skills to translate, interpret and subtitle effectively, using the latest industry-standard software, in a culturally sensitive way. You cover topics and skills including:

• Simultaneous interpreting
• Advanced simultaneous interpreting
• Advanced consecutive interpreting
• Specialised translation
• Subtitling

Essex has built a good reputation in the market of offering top UK programmes in conference interpreting. Our excellent relationships with professional organisations such as the Institute for Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and internship opportunity in international organizations like DG Interpretation of the European Commission and United Nations, ensure that you have plenty of opportunities to learn and develop as a conference interpreter and translator while at Essex. We also offer internship and placement opportunity to work as intern interpreter and translator in the UK market. We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021). We are also ranked 11th in the UK for Linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023). If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in a world-class department, welcome to Essex. Why we're great.

• We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021).
• Work in our state-of-the-art interpreter training lab and UN-style conference interpreting booths
• Weekly multilingual interpreting conferences, field trips and workshops led by internationally renowned experts from the industry

Our expert staff

Our staff are internationally renowned. Their books dominate the reading lists at other universities. All our language teachers are native or bilingual speakers, we maintain excellent student-staff ratios, and we integrate language learning with linguistics wherever there is synergy. Our lecturers on the MA (Dan Chen, Yujia Wang and Yanxi Wu) are professional interpreters and translators experienced in training students in the necessary skills for professional practice.

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Specialist facilities

• Our new interpreting suite provides 10 booths to interpret conferences with up to 20 interpreters
• Use our lecture theatre equipped with five interpreting booths, and the capacity to interpret lectures of up to 350 people – we are the only university in the UK with such facilities
• We regularly use two multimedia language teaching labs equipped with top-of-the-range computers integrating audio-visual projectors and large screens
• Use specialist software such as SDL Trados Studio 2019 and MemoQ for technical translation, Avidanet Live and Black Box for Interpreting and WinCaps Qu4ntum for Subtitling
• Use our professional recording studios to video record a small audience or for presentations
• Attend our exciting programme of research seminars and other events
• Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost

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Your future

Our course directly leads to a career in translation, interpreting and subtitling, in the media, business and tourism between the English-speaking world and China. Students are exposed to realistic training from experienced translation and interpreting trainers which prepares them for work after graduation. We work with the University’s Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. Within our Department of Language and Linguistics, we also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. We offer supervision in areas including language acquisition, language learning and language teaching, culture and communication, psycholinguistics, language disorders, sociolinguistics, and theoretical and descriptive linguistics.

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One Masters not enough for you?

We offer a number of postgraduate taught dual awards with our international partners. You work for two Masters degrees, one at Essex and another at a prestigious university across the globe, gaining them both in a shorter time than studying them separately. This unique opportunity gives you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or prepares you for PhD study. “I’ve had the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment in the interpreting lab and be involved in some wonderful lectures, both of which have given me an unparalleled study experience. Studying here has reassured me of my aspirations and also helped me realise my potential.” Yanzhu Chen, MA Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting student

Program Outline

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

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Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose. Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

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Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits. In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available. Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

HR	100	4	FY
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.	The module number.	The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.	The term the module will be taught in. AU : Autumn term SP : Spring term SU : Summer term FY : Full year AP : Autumn and Spring terms PS: Spring and Summer terms AS: Autumn and Summer terms

Year 1 Want to polish your abilities to interpret between Chinese and English? Need further preparation for professional work or exams? Undertake practical activities and tasks so that you produce accurate and concise interpretations. Take part in a mock conference, to improve your interpretation skills and receive feedback on your presentation abilities. As part of this module, you have the opportunity to undertake an interpreting internship. You may incur associated travel costs to London from Colchester. View Advanced Consecutive Interpreting on our Module Directory How do you interpret between two individual speakers, conversing in two different languages that you have studied? Develop your ability to swiftly move between your two main languages on a range of topics. Learn to quickly solve interpretation problems while providing accurate and concise spoken interpretations. As part of this module, you have the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Centre of Cell to build your interpreting knowledge of medical subjects. The cost for this is £10 and you will also incur travel costs. View Simultaneous Interpreting on our Module Directory COMPONENT 03: OPTIOL LA873-7-AU or LA891-7-AU or Linguistics option (15 CREDITS) Are you proficient in both Chinese and English? Want to further your practical ability to undertake simultaneous interpreting? Learn to track speech so that you can produce accurate and concise spoken interpretations. Develop your note-taking to assist others undertaking simultaneous interpretation. Become confident in monitoring the accuracy of other interpreters. View Simultaneous Interpreting with Text on our Module Directory What are your responsibilities when translating or interpreting professionally? What are the contexts in which interpreting can take place? And what tools are available to assist you when translating or interpreting? Examine the issues that face professional translators and interpreters alongside the theoretical concepts and considerations. View Principles of Translation and Interpreting on our Module Directory COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS Choose three from LA875-7-SP or LG624-7-SP or LA874-7-SP OR LA880-7-SP (45 CREDITS) Want to consolidate your practical language skills by conducting a project investigating translation, interpreting or subtitling? Work with a supervisor to define specific research questions. Search existing studies for information about your topic. Reflect on the processes involved and learn how to write an extended report on your findings. View Dissertation on our Module Directory

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Teaching

• Teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations and learning by teaching others
• We run a weekly departmental seminar, attended by both staff and students
• Small class sizes provide high levels of student and teacher contact

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Assessment

• Your eight one-term modules are assessed by coursework and you are also assessed on your dissertation

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Dissertation

• Your 16,000-word dissertation allows you to focus in-depth on your chosen topic from April onwards
• Close supervision by a member of staff within our Department