Simultaneous interpreting of language B – Polish Sign Language, lev.3 3200-M2-4TSYBM3
Student Workload
• 30 contact hours = 1 ECTS credit
• 30 hours of preparation for classes and assessment = 1 ECTS credit
The course is designed to consolidate knowledge and skills related to simultaneous interpreting. Students will examine and analyse the processes involved in simultaneous interpreting, including managing two languages simultaneously and processing input while producing output in another language. Throughout the course, students will continue to develop their simultaneous interpreting skills.
Initially, students will work with texts that they can review before interpreting. In the second semester, they will progress to live interpreting tasks without prior access to the source text. During interpreting exercises, students develop skills in paraphrasing, conveying meaning and logical structure, accurately rendering factual information (including numbers and proper names), constructing coherent discourse in the target language, and maintaining fluency of delivery.
The instructor also provides practical information about the profession of the simultaneous interpreter, professional ethics, and the fundamentals of working with clients and fellow interpreters. In addition to refining their interpreting skills, students broaden their general knowledge, enhance their proficiency in Language B, and further develop their command of their native language through the texts used in class.
Course Content
1. Analysis of methods, strategies, and techniques used in simultaneous interpreting from Language B into Language A (Polish) and vice versa.
2. Development of skills related to artistic and performance interpreting.
3. Development of simultaneous interpreting techniques using texts of progressively increasing complexity.
4. Enhancement of key interpreting competencies, including divided attention, bilingual activation, management of décalage (ear–voice span), anticipation, and working memory.
5. Further development of techniques for interpreting narrative and argumentative texts.
6. Improvement of interpreting quality based on criteria such as fidelity to the source text, fluency of delivery, logical coherence, and linguistic accuracy of the target text.
7. Professional ethics in interpreting practice.
8. Collaboration with a team partner, feedback, mentoring, and supervision as essential tools for effective professional interpreting practice.
If on-campus teaching is not possible, classes will be conducted using remote communication platforms, most likely Google Meet and other tools recommended by the University of Warsaw.
The course is delivered as part of the “Integrated Teaching Development Programme – ZIP 2.0” project, co-financed by the European Social Fund under the European Funds for Social Development Programme 2021–2027 (FERS) (Grant Agreement No. FERS.01.05-IP.08-0365/23-00).
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student:
KNOWLEDGE
1. knows the types and forms of simultaneous interpreting (S4_W01)
2. knows the tools and basic strategies and techniques of simultaneous interpreting (S4_W02)
SKILLS
1. can use the technique of divided attention, maintain optimal décalage, and is able to use the anticipation strategy (S4_U01)
2. is able to simultaneously interpret a narrative and argumentative text on current events, 10 minutes long, with a medium level of lexical and phraseological difficulty (S4_U04)
3. is able to give and receive feedback on the translation performed (S4_U06)
4. is able to cooperate with a partner in the process of preparing and performing the translation (S4_U07)
5. is able to take cultural differences into account in their translation (K_U02)
ATTITUDES
1. is familiar with work standards and professional ethics: behavior in the booth, rules of teamwork (S4_KO8)
2. is familiar with the criteria for assessing translation quality: fidelity – comprehensibility – completeness – fluency (S4_KO1)
3. understands and applies the basic principles of preparing for work and improving their skills (S4_K07)
Assessment criteria
The course grade is based on the following criteria:
• attendance;
• ongoing preparation for classes and completion of in-class assignments – 50%;
• successful completion of the final interpreting assessment(s) – 50%.
Assessment Criteria for the Final Interpreting Task
• Content accuracy and completeness – 60%
• Language quality – 20%
• Technique and presentation – 20%
Grading Scale
99–100% 5! (Excellent with distinction)
91–98% 5.0 (Excellent)
86–90% 4.5 (Very Good Plus)
76–85% 4.0 (Very Good)
71–75% 3.5 (Good Plus)
60–70% 3.0 (Satisfactory)
Below 60% 2.0 (Fail)
The resit assessment is conducted under the same conditions and in the same format as the initial assessment.
Students are required to attend all classes. Up to two unexcused absences are permitted during the 30 contact hours of the course. If a student accumulates more than two unexcused absences, they must contact the instructor to arrange an appropriate form of make-up work covering the material missed during the classes. An unexcused absence from 50% or more of the scheduled classes results in a failing grade (2.0) for the course.
Bibliography
Literature will be provided during classes