Еducational objectives
The Master degree program “Intercultural Communication and Translation with Chinese and Bulgarian Language” is a joint program of the Department of Chinese Studies at the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology (FCMP) of Sofia University and the Department of Bulgarian Studies at the Beijing Foreing Studies University (BSFU). It includes a module of courses taught in Bulgaria as well as another one which respectively takes place in China. The program is aimed at providing professional training for future translators of Chinese and Bulgarian in the fields of written translation and oral interpretation, including consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. The educational process takes place in accordance with the translation training methodics which is applied in leading European and Chinese schools, in line with the requirements of the European Commission regarding the quality of translation teaching and in cooperation with the Master degree programs at the FCMP which are acreddited members of the European Master's in Translation (EMT) network.
Study Process
The study process takes place in 4 semesters, respectively 2 semesters at the Dept. of Chinese Studies of the University of Sofia, and 2 semesters at the Dept. of Bulgarian Studies at the BFSU. Students who graduate from the program are to receive a joint diploma from the two aforementioned universities. The main focus of classes held at the University of Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridski” is translation from Chinese into Bulgarian language, while classes held at the BFSU focuses mainly on translation from Bulgarian into Chinese language. Students attend mixed classes including both Chinese and Bulgarian students, which provides the opportunity for them assisting each other in translating from and into their native language and for an intercultural communication within an international environment. The program is mainly aimed at mastering and developing practical professional translation and interpretation skills and techniques, but it also includes some general theoretical and specialized disciplines such as comparative linguistics, translation theory, intercultural communication and mediation, which ensure a high academc level of the program and provide an opportunity for pursuing further academic advancement with a PhD degree. The program also offers parallel courses in advanced practical Chinese and Bulgarian language, respectively for the Bulgarian and Chinese students, aimed at strengthening foreign language comeptencies and a more effective prepararion for bilingual translation and interpretation. Practical classes in written translation cover different spheres of translation: literary (prose and poetry), publicistic, administrative, economic, social, political, legal, scientific and technical translation, with an opportunity for specialization through a number of elective courses. Practical classes in oral interpretation build the basic skills in consecutive and simultaneous translation such as concentration and memory training, logical deduction of key concepts and ideas, precise and structured delivering the meaning of translated content, mastering a note-taking system, oral interpretation with no note-taking, communication and presentation skills, articulation, diction etc. An important aspect in forming language skills of the master students in translation are the courses of language culture, spelling norm and language standards of Bulgarian and Chinese. The program provides broad opportunities for translation preparation and practice by means of assisted tranlation simulations which are as close as possible to real-life conditions, as well as internships and participation in real-life events that require translation.