| Unit name | Consecutive Interpreting |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM0081 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mrs. Darke |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Consecutive Interpreting forms the basis of the interpreter’s professional skillset, asking practitioners to utilize speaking and listening skills to mediate across a range of increasingly complex topics. Interpreting is among the most difficult and advanced uses of language, and the disciplinary training involved in this unit will serve to both train the core skills and competencies needed for all modes of interpreting, and to accelerate the level of language capabilities more generally. Students will find the interactive nature of this unit to be engaging and challenging, and will find the content feeds directly into the second teaching block’s core and elective units in other interpreting modes. The requirement for organized self- and group-study will also build discipline and efficiency, and personal tutoring allows for a strong relationship to be built between students and staff as a community of shared learning and practice.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is the most practical of the core units taken in the first teaching block, focusing almost entirely on professional skills development and the acquisition of core competencies such as memorization and note-taking that are required for bridging into other units and disciplinary specialisms such as Simultaneous or Public Service interpreting. The unit is highly interactive, and therefore helps to set the culture and atmosphere for the rest of the programme. Students will also build confidence in their presentation skills, learning techniques to overcome stage fright and crisis-management under pressure.
An overview of content
This unit is delivered by academics currently active and with many years’ experience as professional interpreters in the industry. Students will be introduced to the core disciplines required for consecutive work, including notetaking, memorization skills, and crisis management, whilst developing their language abilities to an increasingly professional standard by training in the interpretation of real-world speeches and recordings. Through practicing individually and in study groups, students will receive feedback from peers and guidance through personal coaching and tutoring by the unit tutor(s) in how to develop their core competencies in the subject.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Having begun with a high language ability, students will find the immersive and practical environment of this course rapidly develops their capacity to understand and communicate content of an increasingly sophisticated nature between languages. They will develop increased confidence in working under pressure, e.g. when presenting in public or with very tight deadlines, and will track their progress in mastering skills such as notetaking and memorization.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit a successful student will be able to:
The unit is taught in two-hour long interactive workshops each week. Each session will focus on training different aspects of the interpreter’s skillset and will include live performances to receive individual and group feedback from the unit tutor(s). Most classes will take place in the School of Modern Languages multimedia centre and language lab, allowing for recordings of practice exercises to made and reviewed. Materials will be drawn directly from real-world industry scenarios and will include examples from the professional practice of the unit tutor(s). In this way, the unit provides a simulated experience of the real world of consecutive interpreting. By creating a class atmosphere that is mutually supportive and encouraging, students will grow in confidence in delivering speeches and interpreting performances in front of a crowd and will find their language and memorization capabilities rapidly improve. Each week you will be encouraged to fill out a diary of self-learning and reflective professional development log, which you can review with your tutor to strategically plan your individual and group study plan. In addition to the workshops, it is expected that students will spend approximately 14 hours each week in individual and group study sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will benefit from individual and group feedback on their interpreting performances in class and exercises such as submitting recordings or annotated transcripts of interpreting assignments to the tutor(s). A learning log and personal development plan will be used to track progress and allow for isolated focus on specific areas of weakness or attention, such as notetaking or listening skills.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A recording of a 5-minute liaison interpreting performance plus learning log (20% of grade, ILOs 1-2), week 7. Students will receive feedback in a personal tutorial to help shape the personal development plan and prepare for the final exam.
Live consecutive interpreting examination at the end of the teaching block working into both language directions (80% of grade, assessing ILOs 1-4). The exam assesses all aspects of the interpreting performance, including accuracy, delivery, professional presentation, and the ability to manage the stressful environment of real-world interpreting assignments.
When assessment does not go to plan:
If a sufficient average grade has been achieved across the two assessments to pass the unit (50%), reassessment is not normally necessary. In the event that the average mark is a fail (<50%), students will be allowed to resit the interpreting examination during the reassessment period in the same format with a different scenario. Ordinarily the grade for reassessments is capped at 50%, but in case of Exceptional Circumstances the examination board may recommend mark penalties are reduced or removed altogether.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM0081).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
