Practicum/Internships
The practicum is aimed at helping students gain real world experiences in the Translation and Interpreting industry. By working with professionals in the industry and/or along side professionals who frequently use interpreters, students will be able to pick up useful skills that will help prepare them for the transition from university to work place. In applying the knowledge acquired in the classroom, students are able to develop a better understanding of way in which theory relates to practice. It is also a requirement for NAATI accreditation. Employers participating in the practicum may also become a useful recruitment resource for graduates of the program.
Students are strongly encouraged to begin thinking about potential practicum arrangements in their first semester of study. In the first instance, students should discuss their practicum objectives (i.e. specific areas of interest within the T&I profession) with their language tutor; often, tutors will be able to offer useful suggestions/suitable contacts. Students may also approach the Practicum Coordinator for an appointment at any time to discuss arrangements. It is important that both students and tutors actively seek out potential placement opportunities which expose students to a variety of different settings.
Please direct all enquiries to:
Dr Leah Gerber
Practicum Coordinator
Room W311
Tel. 9905 9830
Email Leah.Gerber@arts.monash.edu.au
An updated copy of the 'Practicum Guidelines' will be posed on MUSO at the beginning of each semester. Students are advised to print out a copy for their records.
1. Unit Objectives
The Practicum aims to help students to:
- obtain practical experience of the Interpreting and/or Translating industry in Australia.
- draw conclusions about the way in which Translators and/or Interpreters operate and about the criteria and skills involved in a practical working environment.
- apply the principles and practice of Translating and/or Interpreting acquired in their study
- demonstrate their skills to prospective employers
- make decisions about their careers in Translating and/or Interpreting
- reflect on the connection between theory and practice
2. Length of Practicum
The total number of hours required for the combined Interpreting and Translation Stream practicum is 160. This roughly equates to:
- 80 hrs for Translation 4040/4050 (over two semesters, beginning semester 1)
- 80 hrs for Interpreting 4300/5400 (over three semesters, beginning semester 2) NB: Interpreting students should not actively participate in any interpreting activities until they begin their second semester of study. However, they are encouraged to attend seminars and to shadow/observe professional interpreters (e.g. FLAP) in semester 1.
Practicum placements can occur in large blocks (i.e. one whole working day, or a series of working days) or shorter attendances conducted weekly/monthly. The length of time will usually be determined by the organisation.
3. Content
Translation Practicum Content (incorporated as part of TRN 4040/4050) is divided into several components that will typically include translation of a range of text types, such as:
- Translation of legal materials through Monash Oakleigh Legal Service (MOLS), including general promotional materials, information on specific legal issues currently supplied by MOLS to clients in English only, procedural information, legal documents that require translation during the process of advice provision to MOLS/MSLS clients
- Translation of Monash University materials, e.g. website related information, materials for academic staff, ethics forms etc.
- Participation in large translation projects in collaboration with Translation agencies/language service providers
Interpreting Practicum Content (incorporated as part of TRN 4300/5400) is divided into several components that will typically include a range of activities, such as:
- Attendance at court sessions: self-arranged, or as part of the Family Law Assistance Program (FLAP) where interpreting services are required to observe court procedures and etiquette, as well as professional Interpreters operating in the court environment
- Weekly/bi-weekly attendance at Monash Oakleigh Legal Services (MOLS) and Monash Springvale Legal Service (MSLS) over the period of two semesters to provide low level interpreting assistance to Monash University law students who provide low level civil and family law legal advice to clients as part of a supervised law practicum and, in more complex cases, to observe professional interpreters at work
- Weekly attendance at (or block placement with) language service provider/translation and interpreting agency
4. Planning and Negotiating Placements
The structure of the practicum is flexible, allowing students to partake in both individual and group placements. Interpreting and Translation Studies has links with several Language Service Providers, as well as other organisations in the Melbourne Metropolitan Area. Placements (e.g. MOLS) are arranged by the Practicum Coordinator, but students may also request to arrange their own placement.4.1 Placements arranged by Monash University
- Group placements (e.g. MOLS) will be arranged for students. A list of student names will be given to the organisation and students must nominate their preferred day/s of attendance. They will be notified about attendance times by email.
- For individual placements, students must make an appointment to see the Practicum Coordinator. The Practicum Coordinator will contact the organisation/language service provider in the first instance and send details of the organisation to students by email. Students are expected to make contact with the organisation to arrange a suitable time for the practicum.
4.2 Placement arranged by student
(i) Arranging a placement
If a student wishes to organise his/her own placement, the Practicum Coordinator must be advised (by email or in person) as early as possible, preferably at the beginning of semester. The student must provide the Practicum Coordinator with the nominated dates of the placement as well as the name, address, and telephone number of the organisation. Please allow enough time (at least 2 weeks) for approval. The coordinator will notify the student of the outcome by email.
(ii) Students already employed in the Translation & Interpreting industry
Students already employed in the translation/interpreting industry may use that workplace as their placement. However, they must provide the Practicum Coordinator with the name, address, and telephone number of the organisation at the beginning of each semester.
5. Responsibilities of the Organisation
Organisations providing placements are expected to:
- Provide the student with a clear understanding of their tasks and work expectations;
- Ensure that the student has sufficient professional supervision;
- Provide the student with regular feedback on their performance; and
- Contact the Practicum Coordinator if there are issues involving the student, which cannot be resolved.
At the end of the practicum, the supervisor is expected to discuss with the student how the placement has gone.
6. Responsibilities of the Student
Students are expected to:
- Behave in a responsible and conscientious manner at the workplace;
- Understand the rules and regulations related to the work such as hours of work, duties etc;
- Provide the supervisor with feedback on the nature of the tasks assigned; and
- Contact the Practicum Coordinator if there are any unexpected developments or grievances.
IMPORTANT:
- Students will (in most cases) undertake the practicum as volunteers, and will not be paid.
- Students are expected to provide their own transport to placements.
- Students are required to notify their supervisor/contact person at the organisation if they are unable to attend on the day.
7. Insurance
Monash University has a Personal Accident Insurance Policy which provides capital, medical and loss of income benefits for all currently enrolled Monash University students. The policy covers students actually engaged in practical or community placement activities. It only applies to unpaid placements.8. Practicum Pack
All organisations will be sent a pack containing all relevant information pertaining to the practicum, including a copy of the guidelines and the insurance policy.
9. Student Log
Students are expected to maintain a log of their practicum, including the name of the organisation and contact person, the date and number of hours completed. A brief outline of the tasks carried out, problems/issues faced, outcomes etc is also required.
The log is available to upload from MUSO. After uploading the template, students should save it on their hard drive/USB/disk. Student will then use this template to log their practicum hours after each day/session, throughout the semester (see instructions on MUSO).
Upon completion of a placement (i.e. the last day of attendance at a particular business/organisation), students will print out a hard copy of the log which their supervisor/contact person will sign (except in the case of ongoing, weekly placements e.g. MOLS, where students are not required to collect signatures) to confirm their attendance.
The hard copy/copies of the log must be handed in with the student report (see below) by 4pm on the date of the end of semester exam. Please attach yellow assignment cover sheet and place in the drop-box at the LCL office (S423).
10. Student Report
Students must also submit a short summary (no more than 500 words) of their practicum experience at the end of semester, including the following:
- New and useful skills acquired
- Understanding the work responsibilities
- Specific problems encountered (e.g. ethical dilemmas, difficulties with clients, challenges in translation etc.)
- How has the practicum influenced your interests in working in such an organisation?
- Would you recommend your practicum at the organisation to other students?
- Any suggestions about how the practicum could be improved?
Partnerships
The translation and interpreting practicum is undertaken in collaboration with a number of practitioners, agencies and institutions. We are very grateful to our practicum partners for taking the time to provide Monash students with a rewarding and valuable professional experience. Click here for the list of our partners.