Postgraduate Diploma in Language Practice

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What is the Postgraduate Diploma in Language Practice about?
The Postgraduate Diploma in Language Practice combines professional and applied language skills for the purpose of advanced communication skills training, with professional development, to enhance students’ knowledge of various language practice professions, such as translation and interpreting, literary translation and lexicography. The content provides a practical and theoretical foundation within a rigorous academic framework that builds a high-level foundation training to enable students to succeed as professional language practitioners and /or engage in further research. More specifically, it gives insights at a practical level into the various aspects of a professional language practice career (e.g. translation and interpreting, literacy translation, lexicography), and at an academic level into the processes and principles that should inform language practice professions.

Outcomes of the programme
At end of the programme the student will have the ability to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of relevant theories of language, society and power, as they relate to the field of language practice through synthesising different theoretical sources and applying these to selected case studies.
• Synthesise and critically evaluate different theories and frameworks as they relate to selected language practice professions, with a particular focus on the impact of digital technologies and practices;
• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate multilingual and cross-cultural communication in a range of professional contexts, by applying relevant theory to selected case studies;
• Critically evaluate and justify the choice of different language practice approaches based on a critical understanding of relevant linguistic and language practice theory in a digital era;
• Critically evaluate and revise to a professional standard, different language practice methodologies and tools, as employed in a range of selected language practice professions e.g. translating and editing, literary translation, lexicography;
• Conduct independent research into specialised subject areas relating to selected language practice professions in a digital era.

Core Module

• Language Practice in the Digital Age 705

Electives

• Research Project in Language Practice 701
• Translation and Editing for Language Practice 702
• Multilingualism and Language Practice 703
• Forensic Linguistics 704
• Legal Interpreting 1 706
• Legal Interpreting 2 707
• Multilingual Learning and Teaching 708

Admission Requirements
Prospective students must be in possession of an appropriate Bachelor’s Degree at NQF level 7, in the area of languages or a cognate area and should have obtained an academic average of 60% or have obtained a qualification that is of an equivalent standard. Note that due to limited spaces, candidates will be selected based on academic merit and professional experience.

An applicant may qualify for the programme through RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How long is the programme?
The Postgraduate Diploma in Language Practice is a year-long academic programme.

How will lectures and learning take place?
A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used in the delivery of the programme.  The teaching and learning methods will include lecture presentations, discussions, group discussions, student presentations and online discussions (on iKamva). The materials will take the form of prescribed textbooks, academic articles and digital material.

For more information about the programme, please contact the CMDR:
Tel: +27(0) 21 959 3746
Email: edlephu@uwc.ac.za 

For more information about the application process, please contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities postgraduate office: 
Tel: +27(0) 21 959 9257 or +27(0) 21 959 2152
Email: artspostgrad@uwc.ac.za