Language, Culture, Translation and Interpreting - English

llsti2120  2026-2027  Louvain-la-Neuve

Language, Culture, Translation and Interpreting - English
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5.00 credits
30.0 h + 30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Arblaster Paul (coordinator); Vanderputten Caroline;
Language
English
Main themes
This teaching unit will address different themes, both written and oral, such as: 
  • current political, economic, social and cultural events of the countries studied; 
  • contemporary history and political organisation of the countries studied; 
  • implicit cultural, historical or political references present in the texts to be translated or speeches to be interpreted;  
  • specific features of English that are useful for a translator/interpreter working into French. 
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Contribution of teaching unit to learning outcomes assigned to programme 
This unit contributes to the acquisition and development of the following learning outcomes, as assigned to the Master's degree in translation: 
  • understand the function of language variations (social, geographical or historical) and use the appropriate grammatical, lexical and idiomatic structures of their working languages (01 – Language and culture); 
  • identify cultural elements, values and references in the written or oral text (including presuppositions, allusions and stereotypes) and write in accordance with the cultural conventions, and conventions of genre and rhetorical standards (02 – Language and culture); 
  • draft texts for specific purposes in one or more of their working languages, taking into account specific situations, recipients and constraints (9 – Translation). 
Specific learning outcomes on completion of teaching unitme 
On completing this unit the student is able to: 
  • identify and employ documentation that is pertinent and useful in comprehending, and enlarging upon, the themes and questions addressed; 
  • read, understand and summarise English written texts and audio-visual material relating to themes and questions addressed;  
  • classify chronologically the most significant political processes of the countries studied, applying high-quality analysis and clear expression and respecting the terminology specific to the topic; 
  • bring together similar elements from miscellaneous sources to achieve a coherent, high-quality informational whole; 
  • understand, explain, situate and illustrate both the concepts addressed in the course and the implicit cultural, historical and political references present in the material to be translated or interpreted;  
  • fluently extemporize ideas and opinions on current political, economic, social and cultural affairs with clarity and attention to accuracy;  
  • render the essential content of complex messages in English with rapidity and in a structured way with the aim of facilitating intercultural and interlinguistic mediation;  
  • present, orally and in written form, an individual work of analysis dealing with historical, cultural and linguistic topics addressed in the course and observing the rules specific to writing and public speaking in English; 
  • apply to translating and interpreting the concepts addressed in the course. 
 
Content
The course is in two parts: plenary lectures primarily concerning the UK (taught by Paul Arblaster) and classes in smaller groups primarily concerning the US (taught by Caroline Vanderputten). Both parts will consider a range of aspects of life, society and institutions.
Teaching methods
Lectures; introductory talk on given theme; individual and/or group presentations; class discussions on chosen themes; study of miscellaneous written and audio-visual materials. There is a strong emphasis on independent reading and listening outside class.
Evaluation methods
To be awarded the credits relating to this course, students must participate in all evaluations for both parts of the course.
The two parts of the course will be evaluated in January as follows:
UK (P. Arblaster): oral exam (60%) during the exam session, on the basis of a portfolio of coursework (40%) submitted during term time. As the oral exam is based on the portfolio, submitting the portfolio is a prerequisite for taking part in the exam.
US (C. Vanderputten): oral presentation (40%); written exam (60%). In the event of a summer resit, the assessment is on the same basis, with a written essay replacing the oral presentation.
Only those parts failed in January will have to be retaken in August/September. 
Requirements for the August/September exam session are as follows:
For P. Arblaster: oral exam (60%) during the exam session, on the basis of a portfolio of coursework (40%) submitted before the beginning of the exam session. As the oral exam is based on the portfolio, submitting the portfolio is a prerequisite for taking part in the exam.
For C. Vanderputten: a written exam similar to that in January (60%) and a composition to be written during the written exam on the same topic as the student prepared for their presentation during the first semester (40%).
The final mark for the course is the rounded average of the marks for each part, P. Arblaster's and C. Vanderputten's.
Other information
All written work must conform to the university's regulations regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence and the avoidance of plagiarism.
Online resources
Miscellaneous (see Moodle)
Bibliography
Bibliographie : Divers ouvrages de référence généraux sur l'histoire, les études culturelles, la traduction et l'interprétation, la critique littéraire, etc.
Des textes/lectures spécifiques explorant les sujets abordés pendant le semestre seront présentés en classe.
Teaching materials
  • Textes variés et diverses ressources audio-visuelles
  • Miscellaneous texts and audio-visual resources
Faculty or entity
> LSTI


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Translation
TRAD2M
5
Master [120] in Interpreting
INTP2M
5
Master [120] of Education, Section 4 : Modern Languages - Translation and Interpretation
TRAD2M4
5