EUTISC: Postgraduate course in Translation and Interpreting for the Community Services

Linguistic mediators

The role of a translator / interpreter within the community services involves acting as a link between those citizens who do not know the language (or languages) of the community in which they live, and the public or private services they wish to access: hospitals, police stations, schools, foreign offices, etc. In our multicultural world there is an increasing demand for this profession, especially so in the Canary Islands, where, due to tourism and immigration, a great number of citizens require linguistic support in order to have access to basic services and communicate with institutions.

Responding to this need, the University of La Laguna is offering, from among its catalogue of official courses for the academic year 2007-2008, the 3rd edition of the Postgraduate course in Translation and Interpreting for the Community Services (EUTISC - Experto Universitario en Traducción e Interpretación para los servicios comunitarios). The course is aimed at developing the professional skills of those people who wish to act as linguistic mediators between the non Spanish-speaking foreign community and the public institutions.

Objectives

To offer further training to those people who have an excellent command of one or more foreign languages which will enable them to act as linguistic mediators.
To deepen the characteristics of oral interpreting or translation in the aforementioned contexts in order to reach a level in which the individual has an active control over the languages used in the field and the necessary agility to alternate between them fluently.
To acquire an excellent knowledge of specialist terminology, and of the communicative and cultural situations in which the process of linguistic transfer takes place.
To familiarize students with the principal techniques of written translation as well as those used specifically for texts found in the public services.

Course syllabus

Duration: December to June

400 hours (40 credits) for Spanish plus one foreign language: English/French/German
640 hours (64 credits) for Spanish plus two foreign languages: English/French/German

The syllabus also includes EITHER 60 hours (6 credits) practical training in various institutions, arranged by the course coordinators which includes a written report on this activity OR a piece of research on Translation and Interpreting Studies which will be supervised by a PhD Professor.

The classes will be delivered by highly qualified professors, and professional interpreters and translators with extensive experience.

Students will receive 'Language for Specific Purposes' classes in the fields of Healthcare, Law and Administration. They will also be trained to use translation and interpreting techniques (consecutive, bilateral and whispered interpreting, and sight translation). This linguistic training, which focuses on translation and interpreting, is complemented by a series of theoretical seminars on medicine and health; the legal aspects of immigration; research techniques for translators and interpreters and language, culture and society.

The course is delivered in the afternoons to make attendance easier for students who work.

Entry requirements

You must hold a university diploma, degree, or equivalent* from any academic field. (*Foreign qualifications equivalent to a diploma course; holding accredited professional work experience in translation and/or interpreting which meet the requirements for attending a university education (previously authorized by the Vice-chancellor, according to current regulation); or close to finishing the first cycle of studies and foresee the successful completion of these before you are granted the corresponding course certificate.)

You must be able to demonstrate an excellent command of Spanish and either one or two of the following languages: English, French or German.

You must pass and entrance exam which evaluates both written and oral competence in the language/s you wish to study.

Maximum number of students: 30
Minimum number of students: 15

Enrolling

The deadline for enrolment is 1st November. To enroll, you must complete the application form (PDF, 68 kb; Microsoft Word, 70 kb) and send it along with a passport photo, photocopy of your educational qualification and a brief C.V. to:

experto@ull.es

or

Experto Universitario en Traducción e Interpretación para los Servicios Comunitarios (EUTISC)
Facultad de Filología
Campus de Guajara
E-38071 La Laguna
S/C de Tenerife

Course fee: