Translation Certificate of Accomplishment

Translation is the facilitation of communication between speakers of different languages in the written medium; to be accepted into the program students must have high-level written and oral proficiency in English and another spoken language. Courses cover general theory and practical skills to perform entry-level professional translation in a variety of topics (e.g., business, medical, and legal). Core courses provide fundamental translation and related skills to speakers of any language and advanced courses focus on translation practice and skill-building for speakers of select languages.

Learning Outcomes

Certificate recipients should possess the skills & abilities described below:

• Analyze a source text for translation, including the identification of meaning, stylistics, register, and emotional tone while applying the concepts of linguistic and cultural translatability and untranslatability, cultural and functional equivalency, and types of meaning (i.e., propositional meaning, expressive meaning, presupposed meaning, and evoked meaning)
• Conduct research relevant to performing specific translation assignments and design an industry-standard terminology database to store and maintain results
• Prepare and use a style-sheet for translation, editing, and proofreading
• Perform professional translation of documents into one’s dominant language in a variety of fields and formats using the ten-step method of translation
• Implement performance improvements based on professional and self-evaluation of practical translation experience
• Use and assess a range of fundamental equipment and software needed to begin work as a translator, including Microsoft Office applications and computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools
• Develop and employ essential industry-oriented business materials, including résumés, business cards, portfolios, contractual agreements, and invoices
• Describe the different types and levels of certification available to translators and the legal requirements to work as an independent contractor in the State of Washington, as well as the legalities surrounding contractual agreements and copyright law
• Apply a variety of codes of ethics for translators, including the concepts of impartiality, confidentiality, and conflict of interest

Gainful Employment Disclosure

For details about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit www.bellevuecollege.edu/legal/gedisclosure/translation/