I.   Name and Code of the Major: Translation and Interpreting (050255S)

II.  Length of Schooling: 4 years

III. Degree Conferred: Bachelor of Arts

IV.  Programme Orientation and Features

The programme is arranged according to the schooling orientation and objectives of CFAU and Ministry of Education’s requirements on higher learning & Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ instructions. The programme aims to groom students to be senior translators and interpreters in Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and other institutions. By the end of the schooling, students may take the screening test held by MFA or the national public servant examination. Outperformers will be admitted into the Department of Translation and Interpretation (DTI).

Students for this programme are selected from the recommended students from the 17 foreign language secondary schools independently by DTI of MFA & CFAU before being grouped into an independent class for independent training. A competitive mechanism is applied, which means students’ performance is appraised regularly during the process. Students who underperform will be transferred to parallel classes. Correspondingly, outperforming students in parallel classes will be enrolled into this class.

DTI of MFA and DEIS will arrange translation and interpretation practitioners and experienced trainers from the Training Office of Translation and Interpretation of DTI to join the training throughout. Meanwhile, lectures, workshops, instructions, exchanges and field practice on translation and interpreting run through the process.

V. Objectives

This programme aims to cultivate translation & interpreting personnel who are firm in political stand, socially responsible, mentally strong, proficient in English as well as Chinese, informed in international politics, economy, law, culture, society, etc., proficient in theory & practice in translation & interpreting, and competent in diplomatic translation & interpreting.

VI. Professional Requirements

Upon completion of the programme, Students are expected to

1. Be familiar with relevant policies, guiding principles, laws and regulations of our country;

2. Obtain English proficiency in terms of listening, speaking, reading and writing;

3. Have profound knowledge in Chinese language, Chinese culture & the appreciation of it;

4. Acquire basic theories, methods and skills of interpretation and translation and apply them to practice, and be able to translate and interpret between Chinese and English skillfully;

5. Have a broad scope of knowledge, especially knowledge in areas closely related to diplomacy and foreign services, such as international politics, international economics, international law, and cultural exchanges;

6. Be familiar with China’s national condition, society and culture of English speaking countries;

7. Be able to communicate effectively in second foreign language;

8. Be able to do research and field work through IT-facilitated data search and document retrieval;

9. Acquire five basics ( political quality, professional skills, language abilities, communicative strategies and information technologies) and five competences (research, case-handling, diplomatic protocol, negotiation, and innovation). 

VII. Core Discipline: Literature (foreign language and literature)

VIII. Major Courses

Language knowledge and skills module:

Classic Close Reading, Critical Reading, Oral English, Advanced Oral English, Journalistic Reading Course, English Writing, Survey of the UK and America, Speech and Debate, English Lexicology, Advanced English Grammar, Appreciating British and American Cinema, Classical Reading in Humanities, English Literature: History and Selected Readings, American Literature: History and Selected Readings, Second Foreign Language, etc.

Translation & interpreting for diplomatic and foreign services module:

Listening and Interpreting, Basic Diplomatic Translation Skills, Translating Current International Affairs, Diplomatic Interpreting (Politics), Diplomatic Interpreting (Economy), Introduction to Simultaneous Interpretation, Sight Interpretation, Translation Theory, Discourse Translation, Translation-oriented English-Chinese Contrastive Study, Translation of Classics, Literature Translation, etc.

Extension to foreign studies related disciplines module:

Selected Readings in International Politics, Selected Readings in International Economics, English Legal Document Reading, Introduction to European Union, Studies of East Asian Cooperation, Introduction to Chinese Culture, Multilateral Diplomacy, China's Foreign Policy: theories and practices, Introduction to the Contemporary Chinese Diplomatic Thoughts, Contemporary American Government and Policy, International Relations Theories, Multilateral Diplomacy, English Topical Discussion, History of Western Civilization, Chinese and Western Culture: A Comparative Study, Mass Media, Economic Topics and Issues, Multicultural American Literature and Culture, Themes and Topics in American History, etc.

Diplomacy and foreign services practice module:

Diplomatic Documents and Diplomatic Practice, Practice and Internship of Translation & Interpreting

On top of major required and elective courses above, students should take common required and cross-department elective courses required by CFAU.

IX. Curriculum Design

Major courses, which are arranged according to the educational philosophy and goals of CFAU, highlight the diplomatic background and outstanding proficiency in foreign languages against the backdrop of cultural exchanges. Courses are composed of modules in language knowledge and skills, translation & interpreting for diplomatic and foreign services, extension to foreign studies related disciplines, and diplomacy and foreign services practice. The language knowledge and skills module focuses on listening, speaking, reading and writing competence so as to improve English proficiency; the translation & interpreting for diplomatic and foreign services module, while improving language proficiency further, develops translation skills by teaching basic translation, interpreting theories, methods and skills in order to make students translate and interpret skillfully; the extension to foreign studies related disciplines module helps students broaden the knowledge through English, especially knowledge in areas that are closely related to diplomacy and foreign services, such as international politics, international economy, society and culture. In the extension module, students are, in most cases, encouraged to do research project and have sufficient discussion in the teaching and learning process to develop their research abilities and independent thinking.

X. Credits Distribution (see attached)

XI. Practice-oriented Activities

While class teaching helps to equip students with solid language foundation and theoretical & practical skills for translation & interpreting, a variety of practice-oriented activities are arranged throughout the programme to enhance what the students have learned. Students are required to take part in field work arranged by DTI, DEIS and CFAU. These include community immersion, social survey, military training, practical activities, graduate internship, and experimental learning.

XII. Curriculum (see attached)

Programme for Diplomatic Translation and Interpreting (attachment).docx