Business Applications 056 Syllabus & Course Overview

Course Syllabus:

AccessibleSyllabusBA056-1.docx

Meet Your Instructor: 

Former journalist with over 20 years of experience in translations and interpreting. Please read my profile

Please watch my welcome video:

Link

COMMUNICATION POLICY 

Instructor: Lilian De La Torre-Reed

Email: DelaTorre_Reed_Lilian@sac.edu or inbox thru Canvas

Office Hours: By Appointment Only, Office 107-A Business Division.

Online Conferencing is scheduled by appointment. Various programs and tools can be used to conference with students taking an online class. Instructions and more information can be found in the Announcement Section.

Emails will be answered within 24 hours.

The following are the preferred methods of communication with the instructor, please follow them in this order.

• Please email me by inbox in your Canvas Student App (for a faster reply, as I have readily access to the Canvas Teacher App in my smart phone);
• if not possible, the second choice is via inbox in Canvas.
• email is the third choice

Types of inquires:

• For general course questions, please post a question in the General Course Section found in the Course Information Module.
• For specific grade questions regarding homework, assignments, quizzes and final, please email me directly and I will respond within 24  hours, follow the steps above for communication preference.

 COURSE DESCRIPTION

Business Applications 056, General Foundation for Bilingual Business Interpretation Spanish/English is a basic introduction course to language and grammar proficiency in English and Spanish designed for interpreters/translators for government and private business. Fluency in Spanish and English strongly recommended.

COURSE GOALS/ OBJECTIVES

Assist the students in obtaining an understanding of the skills needed to become an interpreter/translator. The course objectives include:

1. Describe the role of the interpreter in the US Court System and in other businesses and demonstrate understanding of the code of ethics for interpreters in the legal and business settings. Demonstrate knowledge of basic terminology for interpreters and modes of translations.
2. Develop proofreading skills in English and Spanish.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the grammatical and phonetic differences and contrast between English and Spanish.
4.  Demonstrate understanding of English and Spanish grammar, including accents in Spanish and punctuation in both languages.
5. Describe regional differences and pronunciations among speakers of various Spanish-speaking countries.
6. Demonstrate understanding of idiomatic expressions and slang for written and oral translating/interpreting.
7. Develop bilingual written and oral translation skills using general vocabulary for business and government.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate the proper grammatical use of sentences structure in English and Spanish in order to interpret and translate with accuracy the format given content that makes sense.

Thinking and Reasoning: Students will think of appropriate responses to questions on documents provided for translations based on the written content and the hearing involved.

Civic Responsibility: The student will develop the responsibility by learning the conduct, civic duties and code of ethics for the general interpreter.

Careers: Students will be able to identify interpreting/translation career path opportunities and the requirements to succeed in the career. 

COURSE TEXTBOOKS

The Interpreter’s Companion by Holly Mikkelson, Acebo Publishing, 2000,

ISBN # 1880594226  Basic English Review by Thomson, South Western Publishing, 2005 or current edition. ISBN # 0538727209.  Gramática Esencial by Rojas and Curry, Second Edition, Houghton Mifflin, 2003 or current edition.

Lecture Topics & Assignments

Lecture Topics & Assignments

Date	Course Topics/Discussions

Lecture Topics

Week 1 February 6, 2019	Introductions Overview: Who am I translating for? Demographics, cultural and linguistic differences. Snapshot of translation and interpreting industry.  Code of Ethics for Interpreters. Modes of translations: sight translation, consecutive and simultaneous. Translation Skills: Listening Techniques/ Short- Term Memory Development and Note Taking and Proofreading Class exercise: Listening (consecutive translation) & group contest Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 1: The Sentence.  Interpreter’s Companion “About the Fourth Edition” section
Week 2 February 13	English to Spanish/Spanish to English: Grammar and Cultural Differences in Marketing and Advertising for Business: Social Media, Business Blogs, E-commerce, Flyers, Ads, and Billboards. Homework #1 due: Audio recording/ Business Magazine or Newspaper Class exercise:  Source Language Recognition and Social Media acceptable “Spanglish” terminology. Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 2: Nouns-  PDF World Bank Glossary- Link to Social Media English to Spanish Social Media Terms
Week 3 February 20	Written translations:  English to Spanish Translation/Interpreting in an Office/Business Environment Homework #2 due: English to Spanish written translation of your choice: office forms, business contract or letter, series of signs (5), consent forms, industry news or fact sheets. Class exercise: English to Spanish translation of Marketing/Advertising Campaign Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 3: Pronouns. Gramática Esencial
Week 4 February 27	Written Translations: Spanish to English Translations/Interpreting in an Office/ Business Environment Homework #3 due:  Spanish to English written translation of your choice: office forms, business contract or letter, series of signs (5), consent forms, industry news or fact sheets. Class Exercise: Sight Translations: Spanish to English translation/Interpretation in an Office/ Business/ Office Technology Terminology Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 4: Verbs. Gramática Esencial.
Week 5 March 6	Consecutive vs. Simultaneous Interpreting: Translating during forum, conventions, workshops, school presentations, business launch, press conference, court hearings. Listening skills, short-term memory and note taking for consecutive interpretation Homework #4 due: written translation of your choice Guest Speaker: Ricardo Jimenez, sports publicist, interpreter for live TV (Showtime, TruTV, ESPN). Class Exercise :  Consecutive and Simultaneous interpreting Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 4 Verbs. Gramática Esencial
Week 6 March 13	Quiz 1: Code of Ethics, Modes of Translations, sentence structure and general business vocabulary  Translating for publishing/editorial and media companies Homework #5 due: written translation of two (2) paragraphs of published material/book, self-help manual, ebook/ magazine article. Class Exercise: consecutive and simultaneous interpreting Guest Speaker: TBA court interpreter/publishing industry Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 5: The Time of Verbs. Gramática Esencial
Week 7 March 20	Written translations:  English to Spanish Translation/ Setting up the Office/Business  Homework #6  due: written translation of office procedures, guidelines, operations, scheduling, customer service Class exercise: English to Spanish translation of office technology terminology Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 5: The Time of Verbs & Unit 6: Misused Verbs. Gramática Esencial
Week 8 March 27	Written translations:  English to Spanish Translation/ Office Technology Homework #7 due: English to Spanish written translation of software terminology, desktop publishing, and other office technology terms Class exercise: Accents in Spanish   Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 6: Misused Verbs & Unit 7: Adjectives and Adverbs. Gramática Esencial
Week 9 NO CLASS April 3	SPRING BREAK
Week 10	Written translations:  English to Spanish Translation/ Government Agencies Homework #8 due: Job Leads in Translation/Interpretation   Class exercise: English to Spanish translation of Job Leads Translation Bloopers Readings: Basic English Review Unit 7: Adjectives and Adverb & Unit 8: Prepositions and Conjunctions. Gramática Esencial

BA 056 and Santa Ana College Policies

IMPORTANT POLICIES:

Please read the following POLICIES carefully. If you have any questions, please make sure you post them in the General Course Questions discussion.

CELL PHONES

For hybrid classes: During designated class time, please be courteous to others and turn cell phones OFF while in class, as this time is programmed for instruction. Do not text during class.

 ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Attendance & participation is very important, as the online videos, Power Points and lecture notes are the primary source for assignments, class exercises and test questions. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from a course. However, because of enrollment demand a student may be dropped by the instructor from an online class when not logging in to the class and/or not participating in the first discussion and/or not submitting the first assignment A student may be dropped for non-participation if they have missed in excess of 10% of the total course activities including but not limited to class attendance, discussions, assessments, etc.

LATE WORK

Students will not be permitted to turn in late work unless I approve it.  Late work will not be accepted unless accompanied by a valid reason, such as extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the student's control. If late work is accepted, it will only be accepted once during the semester. 

HOMEWORK

There will be fourteen (14) homework assignments required during the semester. These will require creative thinking on your part and the appropriate use of Spanish and/or English grammar, sentence structure, colloquial, regional and slang knowledge. Each assignment is worth 200 points and will be graded within 1 week of submission. The assignments are due no later than the deadline posted on Canvas. Please contact me ahead of time if you have an excruciating circumstance that prevents you from submitting an assignment on time to discuss makeup activities as no Late Assignments will be allowed. If late work is accepted, it will only be accepted once during the semester. All assignments have a due date clearly stated. Please post any questions or doubts about assignments and deadlines in the General Course Question section located under NetTutor and Module 1.

DROPPING A CLASS

The official starting date for this course is Wednesday, February 7, 2018. If you decide to drop the course, you should officially withdraw. Do not just stop submitting work, for that may result in an “F” grade. Any student who cannot continue a course has an obligation to officially withdraw through the Admissions Office.

Important dates to remember:

1. Start Date Spring Semester:                          February 4, 2019
2. End Date:                                                        June xx, 2019
3. Last Day to Add (add code required)            February xx, 2019
4. Last Drop Date with “W”                                May xx, 2019
5. Last Drop Date without “W”                           February xx, 2019
6. Last Date to get Refund                                  February xx, 2019

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC HONESTY

This course allows you to utilize resources available to you to complete the coursework, homework, and class exercises including online references, dictionaries and glossaries. Be sure to cite any online sources or material you use for your assignments (e.g. website, author, date). The work you submit should be your own and a student found cheating on any exam or assignment will receive no credit for that exam or assignment. A second instance of cheating will result in further disciplinary action. See Academic Honesty Policy in the Catalog

Academic Policies in the Fall 2018 Schedule of Classes, pages 10-12 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

CANVAS

All course materials, including the syllabus, suggested resources, review handouts, and multiple choice quizzes will be posted on Canvas.  All required information will be available on Canvas so you must have internet access. Students are encouraged to download the Canvas Student App for your smart phone or mobile device. If you are having trouble accessing Canvas please go to the Canvas Troubleshoot page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITIES

Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Student Programs & Services so that we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodations in a timely manner. DSP&S is located in vl-203 and their phone number is 714-564-6264. The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodations. If you do not have documentation they will work with you to acquire it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

It is the policy of the Rancho Santiago Community College District to provide an educational, employment and business environment free of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment, as defined and otherwise prohibited by State and Federal law.

The Rancho Santiago Community College District forbids any form of sexual harassment. Prompt disciplinary action will be taken against any student or employee engaging in sexual harassment. 

If you feel that you have been the victim of sexual harassment, please contact the Office of Human Resources (714) 480-4788.

NO TROLLS

Learning is the goal of this course; as such the classroom space is a safe and open space, conducive to learning. Respect for yourself, fellow classmates and me, the instructor, is required for lively and productive discussion. Dissenting opinions are not only tolerated, but they are encouraged. “Trollish” behavior in the online environment is not permitted and will be subject to disciplinary action. A troll is defined as someone who deliberately starts quarrels or posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic responses to elicit a negative emotional response from a target. We can disagree, but let's do so respectfully.

GRADING SCALE

Your grades will be determined based on the scale below.

Available Points                                                                                 

                                                                                                                    

3 Quizzes                                   200 pts ea.    600                              

Homework    (14)                        200 pts ea.    2800                                 

Class Exercises (15)                   200 pts.        3000                                  

Final                                            400 pts           400                         

Total Available Points                                    6800

Percentages for Grades

90 TO 100 % = A

80 TO 89.9% = B

70 TO 79.9% = C

60 TO 69.9% = D

BELOW 59.9% = F

HOMEWORK

There will be fourteen (14) homework assignments required during the semester. These will require creative thinking on your part and the appropriate use of Spanish and/or English grammar, sentence structure, colloquial, regional and slang knowledge. Each assignment is worth 200 points and will be graded within 1 week of submission. The assignments are due no later than the deadline posted on Canvas.

QUIZ STRUCTURE

There are three quizzes for this course. Each quiz will consist of 20 True/False & Multiple Choice Questions each worth 10 point for a total of 200 points. The quizzes will be done in class on Canvas. You will have 1 hour to complete the quiz once you start. You will see one question at a time and once you are done you will see your score as the quizzes are graded automatically. You will find the Quizzes posted on the Quiz tab in Canvas.

FINAL EXAM

The Final exam will be worth 400 points and will consist of four sections 1) written translation 2) terminology 3) Sight Translation and 4) Consecutive Interpreting.  Each will have specific instructions. You will find your Final Exam posted on the Exam tab in Canvas at the start of class and you will be allocated two hours to complete your final exam.