Vietnam National University, Hanoi

University of Languages and International Studies

Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

TRANSLATION PRACTICE
COURSE GUIDE

1. INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION

Name: Tong Thi My Lien, M.A

Phone: 0975281581
Email: tongthimylien85@gmail.com

2. GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE SUBJECT

Program: BA in English (Translation and Interpreting)

Course title: Translation Practice (ENG3030)
Number of credits: 3
Type of course: Compulsory  Optional 
Semester: 5/8
Department in charge: Translation and Interpreting Division – FELTE
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

3. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills of written translation through five units designed on a theme-
based approach. Topics to be covered include Population, Education, Environment, Economy and Vietnam. Students are expected to
acquire background knowledge and enhance their language competence via frequent exposure to certain types of discourse.
Particular emphasis is also placed on motivating students and orienting them towards professional translation .

4. COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, the learners should be able to:

1. Knowledge 1.1 Develop background knowledge of topics of common interest

1.2 Build up their own theme-based glossary of common topics discussed in the course (population, environment,
education, Vietnam, economy)

2. Skills 2.1 Translate simply-structured phrases, sentences and paragraphs from the source language to the target
language without loss of meaning
2.2 Analyse and edit source and target texts of average level of difficulty
2.3 Translate at the speed of 60-80 words/ 10 minutes (source texts of non-technical topics)
3. Attitude 3.1 Demonstrate a habit of proactivity and autonomy in learning
3.2 Develop a sense of professionalism in doing translation
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

5. COURSE SYLLABUS

WEEK LECTURE CONTENT HOMEWORK

1 Course guide Translate Unit 1 - Text 1
Unit 1: Key terms (English – Vietnamese) Translate Unit 1: Key terms (Vietnamese – English)
2 Unit 1 – Text 1: English – Vietnamese Translation Translate Unit 1 – Text 2
Unit 1: Key terms (Vietnamese – English) Translate Unit 1 – Text 3
3 Unit 1 – Text 2: English – Vietnamese Translation Do Unit 1 – Supplementary exercises
Unit 1 – Text 3: Vietnamese – English Translation Review Unit 1
Translate Unit 2 – Key terms (English – Vietnamese)
4 Unit 1: Supplementary Exercises Translate Unit 2 – Text 1
Mini-test 01 Translate Unit 2: Key terms (Vietnamese – English)
Unit 2: Key terms (English – Vietnamese)
5 Unit 2 – Text 1: English – Vietnamese Translation Translate Unit 2 – Text 2
Unit 2: Key terms (Vietnamese – English) Translate Unit 2 – Text 3
6 Do Unit 2 – Supplementary exercises
Unit 2 – Text 2: English – Vietnamese Translation
Review Unit 2
Unit 2 – Text 3: Vietnamese – English Translation Translate Unit 3 – Key terms (English – Vietnamese)
7 Translate Unit 3 – Text 1
Unit 2: Supplementary Exercises
Translate Unit 3: Key terms (Vietnamese – English)
Mini-test 02
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

Unit 3: Key terms (English – Vietnamese)

8 Revision
9 Mid-term Test
10 Unit 3 – Text 1: English – Vietnamese Translation Translate Unit 3 – Text 2
Unit 3: Key terms (Vietnamese – English) Translate Unit 3 – Text 3
Do Unit 3– Supplementary exercises
Unit 3 – Text 2: English – Vietnamese Translation
11 Review Unit 3
Unit 3 – Text 3: Vietnamese – English Translation
Translate Unit 4 – Key terms (English – Vietnamese)
12 Translate Unit 4 – Text 1
Unit 3: Supplementary Exercises
Translate Unit 4: Key terms (Vietnamese – English)
Mini-test 03
Unit 4: Key terms (English – Vietnamese)
13 Unit 4 – Text 1: English – Vietnamese Translation Translate Unit 4 – Text 2
Unit 4: Key terms (Vietnamese – English) Do Unit 4 – Supplementary exercises
14 Review
Unit 4 – Text 2: Vietnamese – English Translation
Unit 4: Supplementary Exercises
15 Sample test
Revision

* NOTES: The syllabus is subject to change to suit the needs of teachers and learners.
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

7. COURSE MATERIALS
Compulsory material:
Nguyễn, V.K. (2012). Translation Practice. [Course book]. Hanoi: University of Languages and International Studies

Further readings:
Translation Practice (2008). [Course book]. Hanoi: Foreign Trade University

Translation 1 (2006). [Course book]. Hanoi: Hanoi University

Websites:

UNDP in Vietnam (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.vn.undp.org/content/vietnam/en/home.html

UNFPA Vietnam (n.d.). Retrieved from http://vietnam.unfpa.org/public/

UNESCO Hanoi (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/hanoi

World Bank Vietnam (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/vi/country/vietnam

WTO (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wto.org

7. ASSIGNMENTS

Form Weighting Due date Tasks/ Requirements Purpose

1 Regular 30% Weekly Students’ performance can be assessed through various To check students’
assessment preparation and assess
types of tasks:
their proactivity and
- Presentation of their prepared translation
autonomy in learning
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

- Response to teachers’ questions

- Participation in group/ pair discussions or
presentations
- Taking the mini-tests (either announced or
unannounced)
- Preparation of the assigned glossary/ exercises

10% TBA Students are invited to join a forum/ talk/ webinar on a

given topic related to Translation (i.e., Learning strategies
for translation students; tips to improve your translation
quality; translators’ stories). Interaction between
speaker(s) and students, which can be in the forms of Q &
A or constructive comments and feedback, is encouraged
during the course of the event. Students will then write
their own reflection (approximately 300-400 words) with
the following components:
- A summary of the event
- The lessons learnt from the speaker(s)’ sharing
- Your critical response to what is discussed by the
speaker(s)
2 Mid-term 20% Week 9 Time allotment: 60 minutes - Help students revise and
test Format: The test consists of tasks that require students to consolidate the
do the English – Vietnamese and Vietnamese – English knowledge and skills
translation. hitherto acquired.
Note: 50-70 words/ source text
- Familiarize students
with the format of the
 Vietnam National University, Hanoi
University of Languages and International Studies
Faculty of English Language Teacher Education
Translation and Interpreting Division

final exam
3 Final exam 40% TBA The 90-minute final exam consists of English-Vietnamese To check students’
translation and Vietnamese-English translation of short acquisition of the
paragraphs (60- 80 words/ source text) learning outcomes
Note: 40% of the exam questions are taken from the key (courses objectives)
texts in four Units.

* Where significant and unforeseen disruption may occur (i.e.,

due to the pandemic), alternative assessments will be provided
to replace formal invigilated examinations. Possible options
include translation portfolio/ assignment, open-book exam via
Zoom/ email, etc.

8. COURSE POLICY

- Students must show up NO LATER THAN the class hour 15 minutes. If violating, students are still allowed to join the class but will
be marked as “absent” that contact.

- Homework preparation is strictly required during the course. Teacher may randomly check the vocabulary and assigned exercises
before the lesson begins via different types of activities such as mini-test, group work, individual work, etc.