The Importance of Preparatory Classes in the Acquisition of Foreign Language Competence: Sakarya University Sample
Yabancı Dil Edincinin Kazanımında Hazırlık Sınıflarının Önemi: Sakarya Üniversitesi Örneği

Author : Gülfidan AYTAŞ -- Sema KOÇLU
Number of pages : 218-229

Abstract

The existence of preparatory classes in the undergraduate programs where translation activity intensively takes place has been frequently discussed by the trainers. The fact that language is a means of communication beyond being a system and that language is required over the course of translation action increase the value of preparatory classes. The undergraduate programs of Translation and Interpreting Studies have comprehensive curricula requiring both written and oral translation abilities and skills. Therefore, learning and experiencing the foreign language with intensive exercises underlie the success of these departments. Students in Turkey do not have enough course hours required to establish the necessary links with foreign languages. All these negative circumstances indicate that preparatory class is a necessary and important stage as the first step. For this purpose, the framework of this study is based on the academic translator and interpreter training and the preparatory classes.  This study emphasizes the requirement for the preparatory classes with the intention of learning foreign languages and adapting to the undergraduate programmes. The preparatory classes as an instance of pre-education of high quality facilitate that students increase their professional acquirement and raise their professional standards in the future.  This study is based on the qualitative data tested through experiment and observation and quantitative data by using a rubric. The criteria for the rubric were determined bearing in mind the abilities and skills that students of translation and interpreting departments should acquire throughout the training. Later, a scoring system was generated.  The criteria are regarded as appropriate because they were determined in line with the translation and interpreting profession. The success of the students was expressed in numbers and inferences were made accordingly. The reliability and validity ratio of the study which was applied with pre-test and post-test method was ensured. In this way, the students will have a clear view of self-assessment, and will recognize that the language competence is essential in the undergraduate education.  

Keywords

Academic Translation and Interpretation Training, Preparatory Classes, Foreign Language Competence.

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