From interpreting the ceremony commemorating the liberation of a prisoners’ camp, to enabling the communication between a Mexican theatre director and his German ensemble to inclusive translation work by means of audio description, students are given opportunities to try out translation and interpreting techniques in a variety of contexts.
Service learning – learning through engagement
Projects beyond the classroom not only promote internationalization and digitalization in teaching, but give students valuable insights into the profession, too.
In the MA Conference Interpreting, you will undertake an independent, practice-oriented interpreting project supervised by a lecturer as part of the module 04-MKD-2003. The focus is not only on deepening your linguistic and interpreting competencies, but also on knowledge management and intercultural competence. The Institute of Applied Linguistics and Translatology (IALT) has fostered a variety of cooperation partnerships resulting in a wide range of potential projects. Some such partnerships are:
- International Coaching Courses (ITK) at the University of Leipzig
- Museum at the “Runde Ecke” memorial
- Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig
- Berliner Theatertreffen
- Schauspiel Leipzig
- Ehrenhain Zeithain memorial
- Bauhaus Dessau
The cooperation with our partner institutions will give you a chance of interpreting in various contexts and modes, e. g. simultaneous interpreting of museum tours, liaison interpreting for ITK trainees, or simultaneous interpreting of a theater production. In addition, students and a member of staff organize a regular simulated conference with external speakers and interpreting. IALT students also help facilitate communication at university level by interpreting at events held at Paulinum or Audimax.
As part of the MA Translatology, you will be able to apply your skills in various projects commissioned from outside the university. Recent examples included a seminar in which students translated a report on Leipzig’s electro scene from French into German and later published the translation. Another project was done in cooperation with the Organization of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Saxony e. V. Students produced audio descriptions of five short films which were then presented to the public at an inclusive screening.
IALT believes in the importance of international cooperation, especially within the European Union. Thanks to a partnership with the Directorate General for Interpretation of the European Commission (Dolmetschdienst der Europäischen Kommission (SCIC)), we can offer regular virtual classes that use video conferences to simulate the EU admission exams. Students in the M.A. Conference Interpreting can take part in an excursion to Brussels where they visit EU institutions, get to know potential employment opportunities with the EU, and take part in simulated admission exams. IALT is a member of the European Commission’s European Master’s in Translation (EMT). This means we are working closely together with the European Directorate General for Translation (Generaldirektion Übersetzen ). The M.A. Translatology programme is also a member of the European Mobility Programme in Specialized Translation (METS) (Europäisches Mobilitätsprogramm im Fachübersetzen (METS)) Classes on translation of EU texts may be offered on a non-regular basis.
Every two years, you will have the opportunity to connect with representatives from various professional organizations, federal authorities as well as other potential employers. Regular participants include public institutions such as the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Office of Languages, or the Federal Office of Justice, and various professional organizations. Moreover, the International Coaching Course (ITK) as well as translation companies present their work and potential employment opportunities. The first part of Practice Day is dedicated to the general presentations given by the representatives of institutions, organizations, and companies. The second part is dedicated to round-table talks, which give you the chance of asking specific questions on topics such as career start, the typical workday, or the advantages of joining a professional organization or its trainee programme. These talks also help you make important contacts with potential employers.