A Comparative Study On The Curriculum Provision For The Undergraduate Program In Translation In Canada And Hong Kong And Its Implications

With the development of globalization, translation has become the bridge of communication between countries. Translation education which targets at cultivating translation professionals attracts so much notice that more and more institutions for translator training have been established all over the world. The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China approved to set undergraduate program in translation in the Mainland in March 2006, officially separating translation education from foreign language teaching and listing it as a kind of professional education. Curriculum provision determines the quality of graduating students and reflects the structure, level and progression of teaching content. The first priority of newly-set undergraduate program in translation is to establish a scientific curriculum system.The thesis conducts a full-round study on the curriculum provision for the undergraduate program in translation at six universities in Canada, seven universities in Hong Kong and two universities in the Mainland so that the Mainland can obtain some implications. Through literature analysis, statistic analysis and comparative study, the thesis summarizes the characteristics of curriculum provision for the undergraduate program in translation in Canada, Hong Kong and the Mainland as follows: Canada's program which emphasizes practical translation skills and professional competence is profession-oriented, aiming to produce professional translators; Hong Kong's program is set to cultivate language communicators and professional translators, stressing both practical translation skills and the knowledge of linguistics and translation studies; the Mainland's program targets at fostering professional translators, highlighting the role of comprehensive language skills and practical translation skills.Based on the study on the aim, admission requirements, course structure and content of undergraduate program in translation, the thesis concludes that the Mainland should establish profession-oriented undergraduate program in translation which put emphasis on providing curriculum for translation technology and professional skills so as to satisfy the market needs and adhere to the real-life criteria. The curriculum system, which aims at producing professional translators, is to be characterized with the combination of academic education and professional training.