Diploma in Translation and Interpretation

Course details

Diploma in Translation & Interpretation helps you to build a firm foundation in languages and translation skills. It adopts a systematic and practical approach. First, it provides an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of English and Chinese languages, translation principles and techniques. This is followed by translation of practical topics (e.g. news, advertisement, press releases) applicable in the working world. After the course, participants will be able to translate and interpret proficiently.

Course Goals

This course aims at raising the bilingual translation skills for professionals in various fields in Singapore and training English-Chinese and Chinese-English translators with perceptiveness in both English and Chinese and translation skills.

Entry Requirements

• At least a pass in 'O' level English (as 1st language) (OR equivalent) AND
• At least a pass in 'O' level Chinese (as 2nd language) (OR equivalent)
• Priority will be given to those who has a pass in 'O' level Higher Chinese

Compulsory Modules

• Introduction to Linguistics
• Comparative English and Chinese Linguistics
• English-Chinese and Chinese-English Translation Theory and Practice
• Translation Skills for Different Genres
• English-Chinese and Chinese-English Interpretation Theory and Practice
• Integrated Translation Skills

Course Content

A) FOUNDATION MODULES

These 3 modules will help you to build up your foundation in languages and translation theories.

Introduction to Linguistics

This module introduces the origins, developments, varieties, structures and functions of languages, and presents the system of Chinese phonetics, vocabulary, grammar and rhetoric. It also provides students with an overview of language systems and offers them the unique features of the Chinese language and their applications.

Comparative English and Chinese Linguistics

This module presents students with a systematic comparison of the English and Chinese languages from the macro to the micro points of view, so as to deepen their understanding of the nature of the two languages and enable them to handle problems encountered in the process of translation more competently.

E-C and C-E Translation Theory and Practice

This module introduces the different schools of translation theories and their applications to help students achieve a systematic understanding of translation. 

It reveals to students the fundamental workings of translation through analysis and interpretation of cases drawn from daily life.

B) APPLICATION MODULES

These 3 modules will help you to apply translation in the real business world.

Translation Skills for Different Genres

This module analyzes texts of different genres and their translations, to demonstrate their stylistic and linguistic features and recommends strategies to cope with them in translation. It covers genres such as business documents, technical writings, news reports and literature, to raise students’ awareness of styles and improve the quality of translations.

E-C and C-E Interpretation Theory and Practice

This module introduces the basic thinking modes and procedures in interpretation and develops students in various interpretation skills to enable them to utilize their bilingual competence to meet the needs of different interpretation tasks.

Integrated Translation Skills

This module identifies common problems in translation and offers solutions. It helps students to make effective use of translation resources in the information age and provides them with the latest technologies and trend in the field, to synergize their integrated translation skills.

Teaching Medium

Taught in Mandarin and English.