Course syllabus
2020, Semester 2 (30.00 points)
Course convenor:
Dr Vanessa Enriquez Raído
Email: v.enriquez@auckland.ac.nz
Teaching staff:
Dr Vanessa Enriquez Raído
Email: v.enriquez@auckland.ac.nz
Class time:
Please check the timetable and room details on Student Services Online for the latest information.
Course description and objectives:
This course teaches students a range of computer skills and resources for professional translators, covering multiple topics on translation technology. Students will gain (i) knowledge on computer-assisted terminology management, (ii) hands-on experience in the use of (non)proprietary computer-aided translation tools, and (iii) critical understanding of the impact of different technology solutions on translations and translators. The course provides a useful introduction to modern digital translation environments (including machine translation and post-editing) and equips students with practical advice on how various translation technologies can support current translation workflows and processes.
Main learning outcomes:
- Knowledge about professional translation as service provision
- Overview of translation as project management (PM)
- Principles of terminology management
- Knowledge of and hands-on experience with computer-aided translation (CAT) tools
- Overview of automated quality assurance (QA) in CAT tools
Class content schedule:
| Week 1 |
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| Week 2 |
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| Week 3 |
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| Week 4 |
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| Week 5 |
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| Week 6 |
The SDL Trados Studio environment
Assignment 1 handed-out |
| Week 7 |
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| Week 8 |
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| Week 9 |
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Week 10 |
Assignment 2 handed-out |
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Weeks 11 & 12 |
Assignment 03: In-class Tool Presentations
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Course materials:
Topic-related materials will be provided throughout the course in the form of training books and additional resources, including screen-recorded lectures, PowerPoint presentations, selected webinars and video tutorials, as well as practical exercises for each topic discussed.
Teaching format and methods:
Course contents will be taught through lectures, guided group discussions, and collaborative practice. Teaching methods will promote both individual work and teamwork for students to develop their own specialized knowledge, intellectual skills, and interpersonal qualities. Students will also have opportunities to actively participate in their own learning processes, structure their own learning experience in relation to the course syllabus, and gradually become independent learners.
Expectations of students:
Students are expected to read the contents provided every week, carry out multiple activities concerning each topic discussed in class, and demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of the use of various computer-aided translation tools. Students are also expected to actively participate in class, be involved in their own learning progress, and cross-evaluate peer work as required.
Student assessment:
All assessment is internal. The final grade will be composed of two assignments and one group presentation (see below) involving a series of practical and reflective activities and tasks aimed at applying the skills acquired in the course. Detailed instructions on each assignment will be provided and discussed in class.
Assignment 1 (worth 30%): Creating a bilingual termbase with SDL MultiTerm 2019
Assignment 2 (worth 40%): Translating multiple files with SDL Trados Studio 2019
Assignment 3 (worth 30%): CAT Tool Presentation
Requirements for presentation and submission of work:
Assignments will be prepared electronically and submitted via Canvas. Please name your files as follows: "FamilyName_StudentID_Assignment1#.doc"
Example: "Enriquez_ 234567_assignment1.doc"
Assignments policy:
Extensions
In serious circumstances* beyond the student’s control (see below), s/he may request an extension from the course coordinator. The request should:
- be made by email at least 2-3 days BEFORE the due date for the assignment
- provide an explanation of the circumstances
- be supported by a satisfactory medical certificate or other documentation
If an extension is granted, you will be given a new due date. Only ONE extension can be granted to a student per assignment. Only in extreme circumstances will late requests for extensions be considered.
*Serious circumstances means sudden illness (in the case of in-class tests etc.) or long-term illness (for essays etc. done over a week or more). It does NOT mean time management difficulties, wanting to go on holiday, relatives visiting from overseas, computer breakdowns, etc.
Deadlines and penalties for lateness
Any work submitted after the due date and without an extension form or permission in writing from the course convenor will be treated as overdue and penalties will apply (see below).
The mark given to an overdue assignment will be reduced by up to 10 percent (at the discretion of the course convenor) of the total possible marks for that assignment for each day that it is late up to 5 days (e.g. for an assignment marked out of 20, deduct up to 2 marks per day up to a total of 10 marks). Assignments that are due on Friday, or the day before a university holiday, but are not received until the next working day will be counted as TWO days late.
Overdue assignments that are submitted more than five days late will not be marked; nor will assignments be marked if submitted after the assignment has been marked and returned. Unmarked assignments will be held by the marker until the end of the semester, and in cases where the final grade for the student is borderline (D+), the marker may choose to award a minimal completion mark. For this reason, it is better to hand in an assignment late than not at all.
Plagiarism and use of information and communication technologies:
Plagiarism
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offense. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting his or her learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the world-wide-web. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerized detection mechanisms. Upon a reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerized review.
The penalties for plagiarism are severe and can range from gaining no marks for the assignment to disciplinary action under the terms of the Examination Regulations. For further information and advice on University regulations and how to reference appropriately, see http://www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?p=overview.
All students entering the University are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module. For further information on this module please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/learning-and-teaching/policies-guidelines-and-procedures/academic-integrity-info-for-students/about-academic-integrity/academic-integrity-course.html.
Information about third-party assistance in postgraduate coursework can be found here: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/webdav/site/central/shared/about/teaching-and-learning/policies-guidelines-procedures/documents/guidelines-third-party-assistance-ugpg-senate-appr-05112007.pdf.
Information and communication technologies
If students in any course wish to set up a Facebook page for the course or to use any other form of ICT, they need to be aware that the University of Auckland Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Statute sets out rules governing the use of any ICT hardware or software at or for University activities. It forbids using ICT “to store, display or communicate … files containing any text, image that is deceptive or misleading, is abusive or defamatory, contravenes anyone’s privacy… or that reproduces all or part of any work in breach of the Copyright Act 1994”. The Statute refers students to the relevant University Disciplinary Statute and the penalties that may apply. It can be found at https://policies.auckland.ac.nz/student-undergraduate.aspx.
Students are urged to discuss privately any impairment-related requirements face-to-face and/or in written form with the course convenor and course lecturers.
Complaint procedures:
The University of Auckland seeks to encourage the prompt and informal resolution of all students’ learning and research grievances as they arise. Students should be aware that support is available through either their class or faculty representative, the Student Advocacy Network or their Students' Association. For detailed information on academic disputes and complaints, see http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/for/current-students/cs-academic-information/cs-regulations-policies-and-guidelines/academic-disputes-and-complaints.
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.