Translation German, English, Arabic

Introduction

The B.A. "Translation: German, English, Arabic” Program was established in September 2007. The program is unique in the region and even worldwide with its equal focus on three languages at the same competence level. Students usually, but not exclusively, start the program with Arabic as their native language and a good command of English.

In the first two years of their studies, the students focus on consolidating their first and second language skills and acquiring German as their third language. In addition, they are introduced to the basic principles of translation as well as crucial aspects of linguistics and culture studies. In the third year, the students delve deeper into the world of translation while translating texts from a wide range of fields between all three languages and exploring specific challenges in translating between cultures. Like GJU students of other majors, students of the Translation program spend the fourth year of their studies in Germany, studying for one semester at one of the renowned partner universities and doing an internship at a company of their choice during the second semester. The students generally experience this German year as truly life-changing. It provides them with deeper insights into the German culture and the practical dimension of doing an internship abroad and, within the context of one of the most flourishing economies of the world, the internship profoundly increases their later career prospects.

Program Objectives

The program aims at graduating translators who have:

A high command of three working languages (German, English and Arabic);
Acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills in translation;
Acquired knowledge in three fields of specialized translation;
Excellent cultural and intercultural communication skills with regard to their own culture and some cultures in which their working languages are used;
Gained insight into the German society, culture and working environment during one semester at a German university and a 20-week internship at a German company or organization.

Learning Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

Use their working languages confidently and in an appropriate way;
Translate various kinds of texts from various fields of knowledge;
Carry out translation tasks that go beyond the traditional tasks of a translator, such as subtitling etc.;
Make appropriate use of new information technologies and translation tools;
Use different kinds of references properly (dictionaries, parallel texts, online information sources etc.);
Communicate appropriately within their own culture as well as between different cultures;
Take on responsibility and work both individually and in teams;
Identify problems and find ways of solving them;
Adapt quickly to new tasks and new fields;
Work on both the national and international levels.

Target group:

The program targets school graduates who wish to further their higher education – first academic degree – in the field of translation and languages, namely English, German and Arabic. Prior knowledge of German is not a must since the program provides the students with German courses from the very basics where most of the courses are taught in Arabic, English, and German.

Employment and Career Prospects

As a result of the professional upscale training and experience in the field of translation acquired in the program, skilled students are in high demand in the labor market. Besides the professional perspective, there is also the possibility for graduates to continue their studies in an M.A. program at German Jordanian University – for instance, the M.A. program in German as a Foreign Language – or at another university. Since translations are needed in all fields of human communication, graduates of the Translation program work in a wide variety of fields, for example:

as translation freelancers or in translation and subtitling companies;
in embassies;
in NGOs;
in German organizations in Jordan or in other Arab countries;
in theatres, museums, and tourism (cultural work);
in publishing houses, libraries, and book-stores (editorial work);
in newspapers, radio, television;
in language institutes, universities;
in any area that requires language and cultural experts who can translate, negotiate, and mediate in creative ways between different cultural contexts; this is particularly valid for companies that cooperate with the German and English speaking world.

For many graduates, the extensive language skills they have acquired in the course of their studies opens up a good number of opportunities for continuing their studies in a more or less related field abroad.

Applied Translation Track

The Applied Translation track typically focuses on the practical aspects of translating texts from one language to another, preparing students or participants to work as professional translators. This track covers various key areas:

1. Translation Techniques: Learning different methods and strategies for translating texts accurately and effectively.

2. Specialized Translation: Focus on translating texts in specialized fields such as legal, medical, technical, and literary translation.

3. Cultural Competence: Understanding the cultural nuances and contexts that affect translation to ensure translations are culturally appropriate and relevant.

4. Translation Technology: Training in the use of translation tools and software, including CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools and machine translation.

5. Quality Assurance: Techniques for ensuring the accuracy and quality of translations, including proofreading and editing skills.

6. Ethics and Professional Practice: Understanding the ethical considerations and professional standards in the field of translation.

7. Project Management: Learning how to manage translation projects, including time management, client communication, and working with translation teams.

The goal of the Applied Translation track is to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to perform high-quality translations in a professional setting.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Translation Track

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Translation Track is designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and skills related to the intersection of AI and translation. This track focuses on leveraging AI technologies to enhance and automate the translation process. Key components typically include:

1. AI Fundamentals: Understanding the basic concepts of AI, machine learning, and natural language processing (NLP) that are foundational to AI translation.

2. Machine Translation (MT): Learning about different types of machine translation systems, such as rule-based, statistical, and neural machine translation (NMT), with a focus on the latest advancements in NMT.

3. Translation Quality and Evaluation: Methods for evaluating the quality of machine-generated translations and strategies for improving them, including the use of human-in-the-loop approaches.

4. AI Tools and Platforms: Hands-on experience with AI-driven translation tools and platforms, understanding how to integrate these tools into translation workflows.

5. Data Management: Techniques for handling large datasets used for training and refining AI translation models, including data collection, preprocessing, and annotation.

6. Ethics and Bias in AI Translation: Addressing ethical considerations and biases inherent in AI systems, and learning how to develop fair and unbiased translation models.

7. Applications of AI Translation: Exploring various applications of AI translation in different industries, such as localization, international business, and multilingual communication.

8. Research and Development: Encouraging innovation and research in AI translation, including staying updated with the latest trends and breakthroughs in the field.

The AI Translation Track aims to equip participants with the skills needed to effectively use and develop AI technologies for translation, preparing them for roles in academia, industry, and research where AI-driven translation solutions are increasingly in demand.

Study Plan: