Spanish Practicum

Course Overview

This course is designed to learn different methods and how to solve problems that translators face when performing translations. The students will learn the importance of accurate translations and the qualifications needed to be a professional translator/interpreter. During this class there will be different guest speakers and members of different organizations invited to give class presentations. Through different readings, the students will participate in class discussions, translation and community based activities, and weekly reflections. The students will be able to work on a research project with a community organization to understand the importance of using the Spanish language and its applications in the real world. Finally, they will put into practice what they learned, working on their own translation project for the school.

Course Content

Unit 1: Translation and Interpretation Methods

In this unit the students will learn the difference between translations and interpretations. The class will focus on different translation methods and decisions the translator must make when working on a translation, from the beginning to the final product. The students will learn about different cultural translation problems, making decisions of lexicon, how to deal with the loss of translation and compensation, and understanding different genres and types of translations. Finally, they will learn how to revise and edit a translation. Translators and interpreters will be invited to speak to the class to share their expertise and knowledge.

Unit 2: Research work

In this unit the class will discuss the importance and the need for different organizations to use Spanish to conduct their mission. We will talk about consumer oriented texts, how to identify the audience that will read the translated material and the benefits of having content in Spanish and English.

Unit 3: Translation

After the students have learned the different methods of performing translations and how different organizations use translations to conduct their activities, the students will embark on their own translation project. The class will discuss the school’s need to have content in Spanish and identify the audience. They will translate different brochures and materials for their school into Spanish to be used for outreach to the Latino community.