Study Plan
Bachelor of Arts
in Translation:
German, English, Arabic
2015/16
1
11.09.2014
Program Objectives
The program aims at graduating translators who have
 a high command of three working languages (Arabic, German and
English)
 acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills in translation
 acquired knowledge in three fields of specialized translation
 excellent cultural and intercultural communication skills with regard to
their own culture and some cultures in which their working languages are
used
 gained insight into the German society and culture during one semester at
a German university
 completed a limited period of practical training in Germany
Learning Outcomes
Program graduates will be able to
 use their working languages confidently and in an appropriate way
 translate various kinds of texts from various fields of knowledge
 Carry out translation tasks which go beyond the traditional tasks of a
translator, such as website localization, subtitling, etc.
 make appropriate use of new information technologies and translation
tools
 Use different kinds of references properly (dictionaries, parallel texts,
online information sources etc.)
 communicate appropriately within their own culture as well as between
different cultures
 take on responsibility and work both individually and in teams
 identify problems and find ways of solving them
 adapt quickly to new tasks and new fields
 work on both the national and international level
2
1.03.2015
Framework for BA Degree (Semester Credits)
Classification
Credit Hours
Compulsory
Elective
University Requirements
24
6
School Requirements
25
0
Programme Requirements
81
21
Total =
135
22
Total
30
25
102
157
1. University Requirements: 30 Credit Hours
1.1.
Course No.
ARB 099
ARB 100
GERS 101
GERS 102
GERS 201
ENGL 098
ENGL 099
ENGL 101
ENGL 102
ENGL 201
ENGL 202
NE 101
MILS 100
Compulsory: 24 Credit Hours
Course Title
Arabic 99
Arabic 100
German I
German II
German III
English I
English II
English III
English IV
English V
English VI
National Education
Military Sciences
Total
Cr.
hrs.
0
3
3
3
3
0
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
24
Lecture
Prerequisite
3
3
9
9
9
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
ARB 99
GERS 101
GERS 102
ENGL 098
ENGL 099
ENGL 101
ENGL 102
ENGL 201
-
Cr.
hrs.
3
3
3
Lecture
Pre-requisite
3
3
3
-
3
3
-
1.2. Elective: 6 Credit Hours
Course No.
IC 101
SFTS 101
SE 301*
EI 101
3
Course Title
Intercultural Communication
Soft Skills
Social Entrepreneurship &
Enterprises
Leadership and Emotional
1.03.2015
DES 101
BE 302*
TW 303
PE101
Intelligence
Arts Appreciation
Business Entrepreneurship
Technical and Workplace
Writing
3
3
3
3
3
3
-
Sports and Health
Total
3
6
3
-
(*) Students cannot register for both SE 301 and BE 302.
2. School Requirements: 25 Credit Hours
Course
Course Title
No.
GERS202 German IV
German V – Advanced
GERS301
Conversation and Writing
German Language Skills:
GLS101 Learning Tools for Oral and
Written Expression
German Language Skills: Texts
GLS102
in Popular Culture
German Language Skills: Film
GLS201
and Visual Media
German Language Skills:
GLS202
Business Communication
German Language Skills:
GLS301 Specialized Language in
Business and Law Texts
SL111
Introduction to Linguistics (E)
Intercultural Studies (G)
SL332
CS112
Computing Fundamentals
Total
4
1.03.2015
Cr.
hrs.
3
Lecture
9
3
0
Prerequisite
GERS201
6
0
GERS202
1
3
0
-
2
3
0
GERS101
2
3
0
GERS102
2
3
0
GERS201
2
3
0
GERS202
3
3
0
3
3
0
4
25
3
3
Lab.
ENGL
101
GERS202
-
3. Major Requirements: 102 Credit Hours
3.1. Program Requirements (Compulsory): 81Credit Hours
Course
No.
GERS
302
Course Title
German VI – Negotiating Skills
and Application Training
Arabic Functional Syntax and
TRA 112
Morphology
Cr.
Hr.
Lect.
Lab.
3
6
0
3
3
0
English Functional Syntax and
TRA 115
Morphology
3
3
0
TRA 121 Basic Principles of Translation
3
3
0
3
3
0
3
3
0
TRA 281
Introduction to Academic
Research and Writing
TRA 212 Arabic Rhetoric and Semantics
English Semantics and
TRA 217
Pragmatics
3
3
0
TRA 215
Contrastive Linguistics I (AR –
EN)
3
3
0
TRA 216
Contrastive Linguistics II (AR –
GE)
3
3
0
TRA 231 General Translation I (EN - AR)
3
3
0
TRA 232
General Translation II (AR –
EN)
3
3
0
TRA 233
General Translation III (GE –
AR)
3
3
0
5
1.03.2015
Prerequisite
GERS
301
ARB100
ENGL
101/
SL111
ENGL
101
ENGL
102
ARB100
SL111/
ENGL
102
SL111 /
ENGL
201
SL 111 /
GERS
201
TRA121
/ ENGL
201
TRA121
/ ENGL
202
TRA 121
/ GERS
201
Contemporary Issues Relating
to the Arabic Language
Professional Texts: Analysis
TRA 313
and Writing (Arabic)
TRA 234
3
3
0
ARB100
3
3
0
TRA 212
TRA 335
Translation of Media Texts
(AR -EN -GE)
3
3
0
TRA
121/
GERS
201 /
ENGL
201
TRA 332
General Translation IV (AR –
GE)
3
3
0
TRA 233
TRA 352
Fundamentals of Literary
Translation (AR -EN -GE)
Lexicology and Terminology
(E/A)
TRA 381 Research Topics in Translation
TRA 372
TRA 392
Translation in Professional
Contexts (E/G)
TRA 491 International Internship
TRA 536
Translation of Legal Texts
(AR -EN-GE)
TRA 582 Research Colloquium
TRA 583 B.A. Thesis
Total
6
3
3
0
3
3
0
3
3
0
3
3
0
12
0
36
3
3
0
3
3
3
0
0
0
81
1.03.2015
TRA
121/
GERS
201/
ENGL
201
ENGL
201
TRA 281
GERS
201 /
ENGL
201
GERS
302
TRA
121/
GERS
201/
ENGL
201
TRA 381
TRA 381
3.2. Program Requirements (Electives): 21 Credit Hours
Two language courses (semester abroad)
Course
No.
TRA
401
TRA
402
Cr.
hrs.
Lect.
Prerequisite
German Language Course I
1
2
GERS 302
German Language Course II
1
2
GERS 302
Course Title
Three of the following courses (semester abroad):
Course
No.
Course Title
Cr.
hrs.
Lect.
3
3
3
2
2
2
TRA 433 Translation GE-AR
TRA 434 Translation GE-EN
TRA 435 Translation AR - GE
Prerequisite
-
Two of the following courses (semester abroad):
Course No.
TRA 461
TRA 462
TRA 463
TRA 464
TRA 472
Course Title
Cr.
Hr.
Culture Studies Germany
Culture Studies GB
Culture Studies USA
Culture Studies Arab World
Special Topics in Translation
2
2
2
2
2
Lect. Prerequisite
2
2
2
2
2
-
Elective: One of the following courses in specific fields of translation
Course
No.
Course Title
TRA
537
TRA
534
TRA
535
7
Cr.
hrs.
Lect. Prerequisite
Translation of Scientific and Technical
Texts (AR-EN- GE)
3
3
TRA 491
Interpreting
3
3
TRA 491
Special Topics in Research
3
3
TRA 491
1.03.2015
Elective: One of the following courses
Course
No.
Cr.
hrs.
Course Title
TRA
541
TRA
540
TRA
545
TRA
546
Lect. Prerequisite
Desktop Publishing
3
3
Audiovisual Translation and Electronic
Translation Tools
3
3
English Discourse Analysis
3
3
Sociolinguistics
3
3
ENGL 102
ENGL 102
ENGL 102
ENGL 102
Study Plan Guide for the Bachelor Degree in
Translation; German, English, Arabic
First Year
First Term
Course No.
Course Title
Cr.
hrs.
Lect. Lab Prerequisite
ARB100
Arabic
3
3
0
GERS 101
German I
German Language
Skills: Learning Tools
for Oral and Written
Expression
3
9
0
Placement
Test
-
1
3
0
-
1/2
3
0
Placement
Test
3
3
0
ENGL 101
4
3
3
-
15/16
24
3
GLS 101
ENGL102/201/202 English IV, V, VI
Introduction to
Linguistics (E)
Computing fundamentals
SL111
CS112
Total
8
1.03.2015
First Year
Second Term
Course No.
GERS 102
ENGL
201/202
GLS102
TRA 112
TRA 115
TRA 121
NE301
Course Title
German II
English V, VI
German Language Skills: Texts
in Popular Culture
Arabic Functional Syntax and
Morphology
English Functional Syntax and
Morphology
Basic Principles of Translation
(E)
National Education
Total
9
1.03.2015
Cr. hrs. Lect. Prerequisite
3
GERS101
9
2
3
ENGL102
2
3
GERS101
3
ARB 100
3
ENGL 101/
SL111
3
3
ENGL 101
3
3
-
15/
27
3
3
19
Second Year
First Term
Course
Course Title
No.
GERS
German III
201
German Language Skills: Film and
GLS 201
Visual Media
ENGL
English VI
202
TRA 212 Arabic Rhetoric and Semantics
Lect. Prerequisite
3
9
GERS 102
2
3
GERS 102
2
3
ENGL201
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
University Requirement Elective I
3
3
ARB 100
SL111/
ENGL 102
SL111 /
ENGL 201
TRA 121 /
ENGL 201
-
Total
19/
30
TRA 217
English Semantics and Pragmatics
Contrastive Linguistics I (AR –
TRA 215
EN)
TRA 231 General Translation I (EN – AR)
10
Cr.
hrs.
1.03.2015
22
Second Year
Second Term
Course
Course Title
No.
GERS
German IV
202
German Language Skills: Business
GLS 202
Communication
Contrastive Linguistics II (AR –
TRA 216
GE)
Cr.
hrs.
Lect.
Prerequisite
3
9
GERS 201
2
3
GERS 201
3
3
TRA 232 General Translation II (AR – EN)
3
3
TRA 233 General Translation III (GE – AR)
3
3
SL 111 /
GERS 201
TRA 121 /
ENGL 202
TRA 121 /
GERS 201
3
3
ARB100
3
3
ENGL 201
20
27
Contemporary Issues Relating to the
Arabic Language
Introduction to Academic Research
TRA 281
and Writing (E)
Total
TRA 234
11
1.03.2015
Third Year
First Term
Course
Course Title
No.
GERS
German V – Advanced
301
Conversation and Writing
German Language Skills:
GLS 301 Specialized Language in Business
and Law Texts
Cr.
hrs.
Lect.
Prerequisite
3
6
GERS 202
2
3
GERS 202
TRA
335
Translation of Media Texts (ENAR-GE)
3
3
TRA 121/
GERS 201 /
ENGL 201
TRA
313
Professional Texts: Analysis and
Writing (Arabic)
3
3
TRA 212
SL 332
Intercultural Studies (G)
3
3
GERS 202
TRA
352
Fundamentals of literary
Translation (AR-EN-GE)
3
3
University Requirement Elective II
3
3
Total
20
24
12
1.03.2015
TRA 121/
GERS 201 /
ENGL 201
-
Third Year
Second Term
Course
Course Title
No.
GERS
German VI – Negotiating Skills
302
and Application Training
TRA 335 General Translation IV (AR – GE)
Cr.
hrs.
Lect.
Prerequisite
3
6
GERS 301
3
3
TRA 233
TRA 372 Lexicology and Terminology (A/E)
3
3
ENGL 201
TRA 381 Research Topics in Translation
Translation in Professional
TRA 392
Contexts (E/G)
MILS
Military Science
100
3
3
3
3
ENGL 201
GERS 201 /
ENGL 201
3
3
18
24
Cr.
hrs.
Lecture Prerequisite
Total
-
Academic semester in Germany
Fourth Year
First Term
Course No. Course Title
TRA 401
TRA 402
TRA 433
TRA 434
TRA 435
TRA 461
TRA 462
TRA 463
TRA 464
TRA 471
13
Two German Language Courses:
German Language Course I
German Language Course II
Three courses from these areas:
Translation GE-AR
Translation GE-EN
Translation AR -GE
Two courses from these areas:
Culture Studies Germany
Culture Studies GB
Culture Studies USA
Culture Studies Arab World
Special Topics in Translation
Total
1.03.2015
1
1
2
2
GERS 302
GERS 302
3
3
3
2
2
2
-
2
2
2
2
2
15
2
2
2
2
2
14
-
Internship in Germany
Fourth Year
Second Term
Course
Course Title
No.
TRA 491
Cr.
hrs.
International Internship
Lecture Lab
36
Prerequisite
GERS
302
12
0
Cr. hr.
Lect.
Prerequisite
3
3
TRA 372
Fifth Year
First Term
Course
Course Title
No.
TRA
Translation of Legal Texts
536
(EN- AR- GE)
Elective: One of the following courses in specific fields of translation
TRA
537
TRA
534
TRA
535
Translation of Scientific and
Technical Texts (AR-ENGE)
3
3
TRA 491
Interpreting
3
3
TRA 491
Special Topics in Research
3
3
TRA 491
Elective: One of the following courses
TRA
541
TRA
540
TRA
545
TRA
546
14
Desktop Publishing
3
3
ENGL 102
Audiovisual Translation and
Electronic Tools
3
3
ENGL 102
English Discourse Analysis
3
3
ENGL 102
Sociolinguistics
3
3
ENGL 102
1.03.2015
TRA
582
TRA
583
Research Colloquium
3
3
TRA 381
B.A. Thesis
3
0
TRA 381
15
12
Total
15
1.03.2015
Course Descriptions BA Translation: German, English, Arabic
School Requirements (25 Credit Hours)
GLS 101 – German Language Skills: Learning Tools for Oral and Written Expression
Contents: In this course, students become acquainted with several tools for learning a foreign
language; especially programs that are available online: Apart from commonly known tools,
this course introduces vocabulary programs such as Anki and Quizlet, online dictionaries
based on authentic texts and corpora as well as the e-learning plattform Moodle. Students do
not only get to know these tools, they also apply them in oral and written language
production.
Competencies: Students know a variety of learning tools and how to use them efficiently in
their language learning and practice. They have the ability to work together in a group on
basic projects, researching meanings of words, producing meaningful sentences, dialogues
and other text structures. Thus, they obtain basic oral and written skills relevant to everyday
life in Germany.
GLS 102 – German Language Skills: Texts in Popular Culture
Contents: This course gives the students an introduction to German culture through simple
texts such as song lyrics, poems, comics, etc. Students learn about German history and culture
through these popular texts.
Competencies: Studying song lyrics and other texts from popular culture, students will obtain
an easy and interesting access to German history and culture. They improve their listening,
reading, and pronunciation skills in various tasks based on songs. Apart from dealing with the
texts, students can carry out projects about certain artists, writers, or cultural phenomena in
general, which they can later present to the class in a basic presentation – another skill to be
trained in this course.
GLS 201 – German Language Skills: Film and Visual Media
Contents: In this course, German society and culture is studied through German films from
various epochs. Students are also introduced to the German visual media in general: the
various television channels, Internet sites, magazines, etc.
Competencies: Film clips are presented with subtitles, so that students improve their listening
skills as well as their vocabulary. Based on the films, students learn how to write short
summaries and characterizations of protagonists. They also apply language in creative ways,
through several creative writing tasks. Furthermore, students also practice their speaking
skills, performing several of these film scenes in the class room. They gain knowledge about
visual media in Germany and know about the most important media institutions and
personalities.
GLS 202 – German Language Skills: Business Communication
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1.03.2015
Contents: In this course, students develop their language skills in a business context. Starting
with written correspondence – business letters, E-mails, Invoices, etc. – students later apply
business language also in oral situations: planning a business meeting on the telephone or
presenting business statistics in a presentation.
Competencies: Students acquire specific linguistic structures that can be applied in formal
business letters. They learn about the form of such documents and how to address business
partners and clients. While acquiring these formal writing skills, they also extend their
specific business vocabulary, which they later practice in situations of oral communication.
The focus is on the confident application of interactive language in the everyday life of a
company.
GLS 301 – German Language Skills: Specialized Language in Business and Law Texts
Contents: This course provides an introduction to the different types of text common in the
field of business. These are the text types that the students are most likely to deal with in their
later professional life in a company. Technical vocabulary is acquired through the study of
these texts and it is applied in text production tasks.
Competencies: Students who complete this course know the most common text types from
the field of business and law in German. They are able to analyze and write such texts, using
appropriate vocabulary and expressions. They can differentiate between different registers of
words and structures, as they are used in the respective text types.
GERS 301 – German V – Advanced Conversation and Writing
Contents: This course is divided into two parts: On the one hand, students acquire advanced
speaking skills in everyday life contexts that are relevant to their stay in Germany. On the
other hand, they develop the basic writing skills important especially in the context of
education in Germany: summaries, reports, protocols, etc.
Competencies: Students are enabled to speak about their everyday life, about their education
and professional experience, they are able to solve problems through discussion, and they are
able to state their opinion about certain social, political, or cultural questions. Furthermore,
they develop basic text forms relevant to the context of universities Germany, using
appropriate vocabulary.
SL 111 – Introduction to Linguistics (E)
Contents: This course provides an introduction to the study of language. It presents the
fundamental topics of linguistics and introduces the analysis of the key elements of language
– sounds, words, structures, and meanings. However, this introduction goes beyond the basic
topics of “grammar”, which are already covered by the various language courses. Instead, this
introductory course gives the students an overview of the various fields of linguistics, such as
phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, lexicography, sociolinguistics, text linguistics,
pragmatics, etc. This course is taught in English.
Competencies: Students are familiar with basic structures of language and their designations,
the various academic areas of linguistics, as well as important questions of linguistic research.
17
1.03.2015
They acquire the most important concepts for linguistic analysis. Furthermore, they develop
their knowledge in group work, where they study concepts, structures, and texts, which they
are able to present to the class. They also practice basic academic text forms, such as
protocols and summaries, accompanying the course.
SL 332 – Intercultural Studies (G)
Contents: This course is designed as a space for intercultural encounters between Jordanian
students (those who will spend the following year in Germany) and German exchange
students. Students from both countries exchange practical information about their countries
that is relevant to the everyday life of exchange students. They discuss and develop projects
of cultural exchange, and debate common stereotypes and possible intercultural conflicts, thus
developing sensitivity for dealing with the other. This course is taught primarily in German.
Competencies: Students completing this course deepen their intercultural sensitivity,
reflecting stereotypes and, possibly, certain “fears” of the Other. They develop their ability to
work in a group, both with students from their own culture and from the foreign culture. They
obtain a deeper immersion in Jordanian/German culture, respectively, as they acquire specific
knowledge about everyday life in the foreign country. They also develop their presentation
skills, as they present and perform their cultural projects in class.
Programme Requirements (102 Credit Hours)
GERS 302 – German VI – Negotiating Skills and Application Training
Contents: Just as GERS 301, this module is also divided into two parts: In the first part,
students apply the language of business in situations of negotiation: from making an
appointment on the phone to signing a business deal at an official meeting. The second part of
this module prepares students for their stay in Germany: It considers the problems particularly
foreign face when applying with a German company.
Competencies: Students who complete this course are able to act professionally in a
negotiation in a business setting, using appropriate linguistic structures and expressions. They
know about the difficulties and particularities of the job or internship search in Germany and
are able to compose a Curriculum Vita in a meticulous way. They know how to present
themselves in a job interview.
TRA 112 – Arabic Functional Syntax and Morphology
Contents: This course on Arabic grammar covers the morphological and syntactic rules of the
Arabic language, and provides a thorough and systematic overview of Arabic grammar.
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the basic and complex rules of
morphology and syntax of the Arabic language. Students will be provided with needed
instruction to read and write Arabic correctly. It covers the system of inflections,
arrangements of words in sentences, clauses, and phrases, and correct formation of word
order. The course covers the morphological patterns and forms, as well as the system and
coordination of rules that define the grammatical structure of the Arabic language.
18
1.03.2015
Competencies: The goal of this course is to teach students about the different aspects of
syntax, and employing their knowledge in grammar in the practical application of the
translation process.
TRA 115 – English Functional Syntax and Morphology
Contents: This course provides a general survey of the assumptions and techniques of the
analysis of syntactic and morphological structures. Syntax provides students with the analysis
of sentences in terms of categories and functions in the phrasal level and sometimes sentential
level. Morphology studies the word structure, processes of affixation and derivation. Relevant
processes are also studied as they pertain to changes of word structure. It also covers rules of
word formation like compounding, blending, back- formation, acronyms, abbreviations, etc.
Competencies: The syntax part of this course aims at introducing students to the categories
and principal structures of English Syntax, in addition to training them how to recognize and
analyze these categories and structures. Furthermore, they will be provided with an explicit
and consistent descriptive method and terminology. Additionally, students should be able to
identify types of sentences in terms of complexity and to describe nominal, adverbial and
adjectival clauses in terms of type, structure, and transformations that operate on them. In
terms of Morphology it is expected to enable students to master the rules of word- formation,
distinguish between the types of morphemes (derivational and inflectional), distinguish
between morphemes, phonemes, allomorphs and allophones, and to understand the
relationship between syntax and morphology.
TRA 121 – Basic Principles of Translation
This language-independent introduction to the basic theoretical and methodological principles
and concepts of translation draws on a functional approach that explains why source texts
may have to be translated in different ways if so required by a translation brief. It is a
practice-oriented approach which aims at preparing the students for professional translating
and interpreting activities. It deals with communicative functions in texts and translations,
different translation types fulfilling different communicative purposes, and includes basic
concepts of communication and text linguistics.
TRA 212 – Arabic Rhetoric and Semantics
Contents: This course aims to acquaint translation students with the role of modern
approaches to literary critique in complementing the rhetoric set forth by old linguistic
schools. The course identifies the foundations of Arabic rhetoric and its development, and
explains its different sections. It also focuses on analyzing the differences that cannot be
revealed by word to word translation, the connotative and denotative meanings of lexicons,
and identifying phenomena such as antonyms.
Competencies: The objective of this course is to explain the methods used by Arab
linguistics in seeking beauty in the literary text, and the use of the Arabic rhetoric in
specifying, analyzing and evaluating figurative language in texts. The goal is to equip
translation students with the knowledge needed to convey a target text that complies with the
semantics of the source with minimal loss.
19
1.03.2015
TRA 215– Contrastive Linguistics I (AR – EN)
This course aims at raising students' awareness of translation-relevant differences and
common features between Arabic and English with regard to grammar and language use. The
course will deal with syntactic and stylistic aspects of translation. More specifically, the
course will conduct a comparative and contrastive study of the salient syntactic, lexical and
stylistic structures of English and Arabic, and set up the syntactic, lexical and stylistic
processes that should be applied when translating from English into Arabic and vice versa. It
will also take into account text linguistic issues.
TRA 216– Contrastive Linguistics II (AR – GE)
This course aims at raising students' awareness of translation-relevant differences and
common features between Arabic and German with regard to grammar and language use. The
course will deal with syntactic and stylistic aspects of translation. More specifically, the
course will conduct a comparative and contrastive study of the salient syntactic, lexical and
stylistic structures of German and Arabic, and set up the syntactic, lexical and stylistic
processes that should be applied when translating from German into Arabic and vice versa. It
will also take into account text linguistic issues.
TRA 217– English Semantics and Pragmatics
Contents: This course is an introduction to the field of semantics and pragmatics. It
introduces the students to the basic components of semantics and pragmatics terms such as,
reference vs. sense, utterance vs. sentence, literal vs. non literal meaning, prepositions,
metaphor, irony, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, and litotes. Students will practice
translating various sentences that carry different or similar meanings and try to pinpoint the
factors that lead to similarity of diversity of meaning. In other words, the course is a practical
training of students in the field of semantic translation.
Competencies: After completing this course, students will develop an understanding of the
relationship between language and meaning of word, sentence and utterance level.
Additionally, they will learn semantic theories about the understanding of different aspects of
meaning in words, how they can be described, and how grammar and syntax contribute to
meaning. Also, they will learn pragmatic theories about how language users achieve their
goals in verbal interaction with others.
TRA 231 – General Translation I (EN – AR)
This course aims to teach students strategies and methods of translating various practicerelevant text genres for various purposes and in various styles of writing from English into
Arabic. Students are also introduced to linguistic as well as cultural problems and difficulties
which the translator faces in rendering a text from one language into another. Real-world
projects are frequently incorporated into the classes.
TRA 232 – General Translation II (AR – EN)
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This course aims to teach students strategies and methods of translating various practicerelevant text genres for various purposes and in various styles of writing from Arabic into
English. Students are also introduced to linguistic as well as cultural problems and difficulties
which the translator faces in rendering a text from one language into another. Real-world
projects are frequently incorporated into the classes.
TRA 233– General Translation III (GE – AR)
This course aims to teach students strategies and methods of translating various practicerelevant text genres for various purposes and in various styles of writing from German into
Arabic. Students are also introduced to linguistic as well as cultural problems and difficulties
which the translator faces in rendering a text from one language into another. Real-world
projects are frequently incorporated into the classes.
TRA 234 –Contemporary Issues Relating to the Arabic Language
Contents: Arabic has faced old and new challenges that were overcome due to the efforts
exerted by the linguistic scholars over the different eras and times. This course aims to
highlight some of the issues challenging Arabic language to this day, including the issues that
are considered problematic to translation students, such as: terminology, the use of the
vernacular language, Arabic writing, common errors, globalization, etc…
Competencies: The objective of this course is to teach translation students about the negative
effects of such issues in the presentation of a translated text that does not comply to the
general foundations and criteria of sound translation. The course also seeks to analyze the
problems faced by translation students, through identifying the problems, and then finding the
best ways and methods to overcome them.
TRA 281 – Introduction to Academic Research and Writing
Contents: In this course, students become acquainted with the most important methods and
skills for academic research and writing. They are introduced to the resources crucial to
research, such as the library or specific resources available online.
Competencies: Students gain access to the sources that are crucial to academic research.
They develop academic writing skills and know how to quote, compile a works cited list, and
avoid plagiarism. They carry out a short research project individually and present it in an
appropriate way, in written form. They are able to quote and cite their resources adequately in
this paper.
TRA 313 – Professional Texts: Analysis and Writing (Arabic)
Contents: In this seminar, students obtain an insight into professional texts from various
areas, such as business, law, journalism, etc. in Arabic. This course departs from the
assumption that certain types of texts, such as a newspaper article, a business report, a review,
a law text, etc. have specific features, a specific language and structure.
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Competencies: Students develop a feeling for the structure and, especially, for the writing
style of texts from different areas in Arabic. They are able to produce professional texts in
Arabic for various purposes. Based on the knowledge they already have about similar text
types in German and English, they are able to compare text types from different languages
and cultural contexts. They develop their research skills in group work and present the results
of their research to the class. Students learn to present their written texts in a well-formatted
portfolio.
TRA331– Specialized Translation (Social Sciences)
In this course students learn how to translate various text genres from and into Arabic,
English and German in the field(s) of social sciences they were introduced to in TRA 271.
Real-world projects are frequently incorporated into the classes.
TRA 332– General Translation IV (AR – GE)
This course aims to teach students strategies and methods of translating various practicerelevant text genres for various purposes and in various styles of writing from Arabic into
German. Students are also introduced to linguistic as well as cultural problems and difficulties
which the translator faces in rendering a text from one language into another. Real-world
projects are frequently incorporated into the classes.
TRA 335– Translation of Media Texts (AR -EN -GE)
Contents: This course is designed to familiarize students with media style, format and
features. In addition, it will enhance students’ translation skills with respect to ArabicEnglish, English –German, German- Arabic and vice versa. This course is designed to tackle a
wide range of mass-media texts, including press reports, interviews, political analyses, news
bulletins, public speeches, etc. It aims to lay the foundations for, and to introduce students to
the practice of, translation for the media, and develop their translating sense and skills in
practical media translating assignments.
Competencies: At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the semiotics of
multimodal ‘texts’ as hybrid texts which work in cross-cultural communication and to
communicate as precisely as possible the essence of both written and/or aural texts; a skill
which is becoming crucial in handling the enormous inflow of information from electronic
and conventional sources. Students will be to tackle a wide range of mass-media texts
including press reports, interviews, political analyses, news bulletins, public speeches, etc.
Special emphasis will be placed on the characteristics of the language of media, abbreviations
and acronyms, political and diplomatic language, objective and sensational reporting, etc.
TRA 352 Fundamentals of Literary Translation (AR -EN -GE)
Contents: This course aims to train students to translate different literary texts between
English- Arabic, Arabic – German, English –German, etc. It also focuses on how to deal with
the peculiarities of literary texts in English, Arabic and German when being translated into the
other language. Students develop translation strategies by focusing on literary genres
including essays, prose, poetry, drama, testimonials and children’s literature and comics.
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Practical matters such as copyright and publication processes are tackled throughout the
course.
Competencies: At the end of the course, students will learn strategies for translating essays,
prose, poetry, drama, testimonials and children’s literature and comics. They will become
acquainted with contemporary translation theory as it relates to literary translation and to
understand how to analyze the translation of a literary work.
TRA 372 – Lexicology and Terminology (A/E)
Contents: The aims of the course are to gain insights into systemic organization of the
lexicon, its structure and relations, give an understanding of non-isomorphic relations between
languages at the level of lexicon, improve skills of work with a dictionary, skills of applying
theoretical principles in practice (translation), provide basic skills of practical work .
Competencies: After having completed the course, students will be able to define the field
and the aims of lexicology and lexicography as well as define its main terms and concepts.
They will be able to analyze the formation and meaning of words and to analyze the
vocabulary of a given language. In addition, they will be able to describe different types of
dictionaries and types of descriptions in dictionaries and describe the meaning of words from
the perspective of the mental lexicon. Also, they will describe and analyze the way in which
words are acquired and stored in the mental lexicon; explain and justify the most suitable
lexicographic design for a given type of word and linguistic unit.
TRA 381 – Research Topics in Translation
The students explore their scientific and research interests in different fields and gain practical
experience in various projects related to the BA program. The course aims at developing and
deepening the knowledge in selected fields closely related to translation theory and
application, such as localization, adaptation, history of translation in the Arab world and the
West, translation of holy books, international criteria in translation, translation methodology
and others. This course is designed to help the students enhance their abilities of
understanding and dealing with complex issues and challenges faced in the translation
process. This course provides deeper insights into topics or specific fields of Translation
Studies and serves as a preparation for the Bachelor Thesis.
TRS 392 – Translation in Professional Contexts (E/G)
In this course the students are prepared for the local and the international job market. They are
trained in various job application methods and further develop their soft skills with a special
focus on job interviews and assessments. Forms of applications and of resume writing in
Arabic, German and English speaking countries are presented, discussed and produced.
During field trips and meetings with experts the students are introduced to possible future
workplaces and learn about common practices in their field of specialization.
TRA 433 – Translation German/Arabic
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Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 434 – Translation German/English
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 435 – Translation Arabic/German
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 461– Culture Studies Germany
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 462– Culture Studies Great Britain
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 463– Culture Studies USA
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 464– Culture Studies Arab World
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 472–Special Topics in Translation
Courses provided by partner universities
TRA 491 – International Internship
Practical training in a German institution or company (20 weeks).
TRA 534– Interpreting
This course offers a language-independent introduction to the theory and methodology of
interpreting. Students apply their knowledge in consecutive and liaison interpreting exercises
in all working languages.
TRA 535– Special Topics in Research
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This course provides deeper insights into topics or specific fields of Translation Studies on a
more theoretical level. Students are introduced to recent scientific research in translation
studies.
TRA 536– Translation of Legal Texts (AR -EN-GE)
Contents: Legal texts are often complicated and difficult to understand for the layman, which
the legal translator often is. Legal translators have to work accurately and errors may have
dire consequences. Naturally, this course cannot teach students to become fully-fledged legal
translators. Rather, it aims to gain insight into what happens when one tries to translate texts
that are very much culture specific. Furthermore, students are introduced to the theoretical
problems involved in legal translation. They will explore and work with translation tools and
translate a variety of legal texts such as contracts, correspondence, deeds, insurance policies,
summons and court decisions.
Competencies: Students will explore some of the problems of legal translation. In addition to
mastering a substantial number of legal terms and expressions in Arabic, English and German,
they will be trained to appreciate the intricacies of legal phraseology, subtlety and accuracy.
They will be asked to translate a variety of legal texts from Arabic into English, English into
German and vice versa.
TRA 537– Translation of Scientific and Technical Texts (AR-EN- GE)
The course focuses on translating different text-types that are related to different scientific
genres, which would consequently enrich students' vocabulary in various topics. The course
would enable students to write successfully in different scientific topics using correct Arabic,
English and German through the translation process. Students will also be trained on how to
overcome translation problems through different types of discourse.
TRA 540 – Audiovisual Translation and Electronic Translation Tools
This course aims to provide an introduction to the subject ranging from dubbing and voiceover to surtitling and subtitling, while offering a practical focus on professionally-oriented
training in interlingual subtitling.t also provides the students with skills for effectively using
translation tools. It focuses on computer-assisted terminology management, the use and
construction of corpora, translation memories, localization tools, and the incorporation of
machine translation programmes into the translation process.
TRA 541– Desktop Publishing
This course provides the students with the necessary background for using the computer and
specific types of software to combine text and graphics to produce documents such as
newsletters, brochures, books, etc. They will be introduced to various programmes such as
Adobe InDesign, PagePlus X2, and QuarkXPress.
TRA 545- English Discourse Analysis
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This course focuses on the analysis of language use in different genres of spoken and written
English so that translation students become explicitly aware of the features of language used
in everyday life. Students collect, transcribe, and analyze features of conversations, lectures,
explanations, interviews, descriptions, and other types of speech genres while reading and
discussing theoretical notions underlying language use in English. Students identify features
of cohesion, involvement, discourse markers, coherence, structure, rhythm, prosody and
others.
TRA 546- Sociolinguistics
This course provides an overview of the field of sociolinguistics – studying language in its
social context and looking at how linguistic choices are associated with social and situational
characteristics. The course is designed to increase students’ awareness of the ways that
language and social contexts interact and develop their ability to explain some of these
interactions. The approaches that will be used in considering the interaction of language and
society will be drawn from related disciplines, including anthropology (the ethnography of
speaking) and social psychology.
TRA 582 - Research Colloquium
Contents: This colloquium provides a space for students to discuss their B.A. projects as
work in progress. They present their outlines, their main theses and research ideas. As a
course after the exchange year in Germany, this colloquium is held in German.
Competencies: Students learn how to present the ideas/results of their research in an
appropriate and interesting way, accompanied by visuals and a handout. They also learn to
critically discuss and evaluate their own and each other’s projects, thus improving the
structure and deepening the ideas of their theses.
TRA 583 -B.A. Thesis
With their graduation project the students carry out scholarly work on a limited, practicerelated topic in one of various fields of translation, translation criticism or intercultural
communication, applying the methodology of the discipline and using the appropriate
literature.
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