A students' Needs-analysis Study of Translation Studies Curriculum offered at Master’s level in Iranian Universities

Subject Areas : Research in English Language Pedagogy

Navid Nasrollahi Shahri ¹ , Zahra Barzakhi Farimani ²

1 - Ferdowsi university of Mashhad
2 - Ferdowsi university of Mashhad

Received: 2016-03-13 Accepted : 2016-07-01 Published : 2016-07-01

Keywords: Translation Studies, Curriculum Research, curriculum renewal, Needs analysis,

Abstract :

This study aimed to investigate the program of Translation Studies, offered in Iranian universities at the level of Master, in terms of its curriculum through a needs analysis model offered by Altschuld and Witkin (1995). To do so, after a review of the related literature and conducting a documentary analysis, the researchers chose to look at the issue from different perspectives. Current instructors, professionals who are involved in the business of translation and a number of graduated students were interviewed so as to gather enough data to design a questionnaire, which constitutes the backbone of the study. Since the study aimed at students’ perception, the survey was conducted on students of Translation Studies program, which was based on the interviews with instructors, graduates of the program and the professionals working in the market. Afterward, the questionnaire data were gathered and, subsequently, went under statistical procedures. Based on the results, the researchers came up with practical recommendations for curriculum renewal, based on the needs-analysis model adopted. As this study has adopted a triangulation approach to investigate the curriculum, the results and recommendations, although limited, can be of great use to educators, curriculum developers and translator trainers in particular.

References:

Altschuld, J.W. & Witkin, B.R. (1995).  
Planning and conducting needs assessments: A Practical Guide. USA: Sage Publications  
Brown, J.D., Cunha, M.I.A., Frota, S. de F.N.,
& Ferreira, A.B.F. (2001). The development and validation of a Portuguese version of the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire. In Z. Dörnyei & R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and second language acquisition. (Technical Report #23, pp. 257-280). Honolulu: University ofHawai’i,  Second  Language  Teaching  & Curriculum Center.
Bulut, A. (1988). A suggested study on the teaching of translation through a specific technique in ELT  departments.  Unpublished  Master’s Thesis. Gazi University, Ankara.

Cattell, R.B. (1978). The scientific use of factor analysis in behavioral and life sciences. New York: Plenum.   
Cordero, A.D. (1984). The role of translation in second language acquisition. French Review, 57, 350-355.
Hurtado, S. (2005). The next generation of diversity and intergroup relations research. Journal of Social Issues, 61, 595–610.
Hlavac, Jim. 'A Cross-National Overview Of Translator And Interpreter Certification Procedures'. The International Journal for Translation & Interpreting Research trans-
5.1 (2013): 36. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Kiraly, D. (2000). A Social Constructivist Approach to Translator Education–Empowerment from Theory to Practice. Manchester. St. Jerome Publishing.
Kiraly, D. (2003). From Instruction to Collaborative Construction: A passing fad or the promise of a paradigm shift in translator education? en Baer B. y Koby G. (eds.) Beyond the Ivory Tower. Rethinking translation pedagogy. American Translators Association Scholarly Monograph Series, Vol. XII. Amsterdam, Filadelfia: John Benjamins. 3-27.
Kline, P. (1994). An easy guide to factor analysis.
New York: Routledge.
Krathwohl, D.R. (1998). Methods of educational and social science research. USA: Addison-Wesley educational Publishers, Inc.
Lado, R. (1988). Language teaching: Scientific approach. New York: Mc Graw Hill.
Litwin, M.S. (1995). How to measure survey validity and reliability. California: Sage Publications, Inc.
Miremadi, A. (2003). Theories of translation and interpretation. Tehran: The Center for Studying and Compiling University Books in Humanities (SAMT).

McKillip, J. (1987).  Needs analysis: Tools for the human services and education. California: Sage Publications.
Newmark, P. (2001). A Textbook of Translation.
Edinburgh. Pearson Education Limited.
Oppenheim, A.N. (1992). Questionnaire design, interviewing, and attitude measurement. London: Pinter Publishers.
Parks, G. (1982). Notes in the use of translation in language classes. System, 10, 241-245.
Paul, G. (2009). Translation problems and solutions.
In G. Paul (Ed.), Translation in practice: A symposium (1st ed.). London: Amanda Hopkinson.
Richards, J.C. (1990). The language teaching matrix. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Richterich, R. & Chancerel, J.C. (1980).  
Identifying the needs of adults learning a foreign language. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Şat,  F.  (1996).  Rethinking  translation  in language teaching: A needs assessment to develop curriculum guidelines specific for the translation course at YADIM, Çukurova University.  Unpublished  Master’s Thesis. Bilkent University, Ankara.
Stufflebeam, D.L., McCormick, C.H., Brinkerhoff,
R.O., Nelson, C.O. (1985). Conducting educational needs assessments. Boston: Klower.
Smith, C.E. (1989). Needs assessment guide.
Tennessee Schools Systems. U.S. Department of Education Office of educational Research and Improvement.
Tabachnik, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Ulrych, M. (1985). Teaching translation: a sample procedure part 1. Modern English Teacher. 13/2, 42-48.
Urgese, T. (1989). Translation: How, when and why. English Teaching Forum, 17,38-39.