Content aspects of bachelor's training in translation in german higher education institutions

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of the content of bachelor's degree programmes in translation at classical and applied universities in Germany. The issue of ensuring quality training of translators has become particularly relevant in recent years in the context of Ukraine's intensive movement towards integration into the European Union. It has been established that there are differences between the programmes of different universities in terms of the courses offered, the number of credits and the content of the modules. It has been determined that the structural division of bachelor's degree programmes in translation training is common, which includes three blocks: compulsory subjects, compulsory electives, and free choice subjects. The programmes under consideration have in common the following: studying a practical course in the chosen foreign language, translation, internships (including foreign ones); writing and defending a bachelor's thesis. The programmes of universities of applied sciences are more practice-oriented than those of classical universities. The Bachelor's degree programme in Translation at the University of Leipzig is aimed at providing students with theoretical and methodological knowledge and practical skills in translation and interpreting. The programme also provides for an introduction to the cultures of the countries whose languages are studied, as well as translation technologies. The bachelor's degree programme in Translation provides for a student's academic workload of 180 credits. The structure of the bachelor's degree programme in translation at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is modular and consists of modules in translation and science, subject-specific and interdisciplinary additional qualifications, and a bachelor's thesis. The main part of the content of the University of Heidelberg's translation programme is aimed at developing competence in translating general and technical texts. The main part of the content of the translation programme at the University of Heidelberg is aimed at developing competence in translating texts of general and technical subjects. Students acquire the ability to apply their knowledge of the linguistic and cultural peculiarities of the languages they study; to translate in selected language pairs; and to justify their translation. At the same time, they learn to use appropriate auxiliary tools, including monolingual and multilingual reference books, specialised terminology databases, online dictionaries, CAT tools, localisation tools, and concordance software. This enables future translators to search for and process additional information on their own.There are two study options (A or B) within the Bachelor's degree programme in International Communication and Translation at the University of Hildesheim. By choosing option A, students study two foreign languages. Those who choose option B study one foreign language, and the rest of the credits are obtained through applied disciplines and modules from the compulsory elective block. In addition, the offer of disciplines is constantly expanding, mainly in the area of information technologies and intercultural communication. Translation programmes differ in their content, which is reflected in their titles: Translation, Translation Studies, International Communication and Translation, and Specialised Translation. Higher education institutions that offer bachelor's and master's degree programmes in translation have valuable years of experience in training these professionals. In addition, they are focused on meeting the needs and demands of employers, shaping the content of their programmes accordingly. Since the range of employment of domestic translators will be wider than it is today in the near future, it is worthwhile to use the experience gained in training them in Europe, particularly in the Federal Republic of Germany.