Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Students must have completed Level C French, or equivalent.
Only students who are English or French native speakers should take this module.

Liaison interpreting is a fast-paced activity that some students may find stressful. It requires hand note-taking; memory, public-speaking and multi-tasking skills, and a good command of the target language.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, the module aims to:

- build on language skills gained at Stages 1, 2 and 3
- provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the French language and with the ability to use it at a high level of proficiency in professional, academic and social environments
- prepare students for postgraduate study in areas that make extensive and intensive use of the target language
- develop students’ translation skills (into English and into French) and interpreting skills (into and from French), to an advanced level of competence.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module comprises two components: liaison interpreting (into and from French) and written translation (into English and into French). It is aimed at final year students of French who have reached a near-native command of the language.

The translation and liaison interpreting tasks are based on topical themes. Liaison interpreting includes “business-like” situations and exchanges.

Sessions will include:

- Vocabulary acquisition and practice, note-taking and other interpreting-related skills development and practice for interpreting.
- Interpreting and translation techniques.
- Using appropriate register/style in both French and English.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have gained knowledge in:

- The use of appropriate sentence and text structures, lexicon and register in a range of translation tasks.
- The use of appropriate techniques, lexicon and register in a range of liaison interpreting tasks.
- All areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.
- Take effective notes by hand (listen for gist and for detail).

Intended Skill Outcomes

1.       Subject-Specific skills:

By the end of the course, students will have gained experience in:

- using complex lexical and grammatical structures in a range of advanced discourse types, both spoken and written
- understanding, using and evaluating information from authentic spoken sources; liaison interpreting
- written translation from French into English and English into French.

2. Cognitive/intellectual skills:

Students will further develop their ability to:

- locate, make use of and critically evaluate materials for this course other than those provided by the lecturer
- apply and evaluate a range of learning strategies appropriate to the demands of the course
- work independently and confidently, on their own or as part of a group, either within or outside the classroom
- conduct research using the Internet and other sources in order to contribute their own materials to
the course.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Seminars will introduce, model and offer guidance in each of the skills that students are required to practise during the course (translation and liaison interpreting).

Group work will offer students an opportunity to work in small groups (in the target language and in English) under close supervision of the lecturer. These classes will focus on the skills listed in the outline syllabus.

Independent study will give students the opportunity to prepare and reinforce what is covered in seminars, and to undertake research and extra practice.

Teaching will be in the target language and in English.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment of interpreting is performed in a setting that is as close to a real-life situation as possible. This examination will assess students’ ability to take swift and effective notes and listen and convey information into English and the Target language in a prompt and professional manner. Reasonable adjustments can be made if required as part of a student support plan.

Translation is assessed by means of 1 x timed PC exam and 1 x written exam to give students the opportunity to test their translation, time management and written communication skills in a setting that is close to a real-life professional situation.


The interpreting mock exam and practice translation help students assess their progress before the formal examinations take place. Formative feedback will be provided regularly.

General Notes

N/A