Master of Arts in Conference Interpreting (MACI)

MACI hauniv diagram

Core Curriculum (11 courses, 33 credits – 66 ECTS)

The core courses provide a foundation in interpretation studies and introduce students to the theoretical and conceptual framework of the discipline, as well as to research tools. Through actual practice, students are equipped with the theoretical and practical skills required for handling consecutive and simultaneous interpretation situations in situ and remotely in their respective language pairs. Intensive training is provided in the use of resources and equipment available to interpreters in all professional settings.

Provides an introduction to the theoretical premises that underpin interpretation practice. The course provides insight to the differences between translation and interpretation and introduces students to the disciplines involved in interpretation. Topics covered include cognitive science, linguistics, discourse studies, sociolinguistics, and communication. (This is a non-language pair-specific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Provides students with a solid background in the practical framework of interpretation. This module prepares students for the actual practice of interpretation in their respective language pairs by introducing exercises in voice coaching, public speaking, terminology, and resources for interpreters. (This is a non-language pairspecific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Introduces students to the basic skills involved in handling consecutive interpretation situations. Training will involve various tasks and texts of escalating difficulty in terms of length and level of technicality. Students learn to handle speech up to 3-5 minutes long and are introduced to techniques of note-taking. (This is a language pair-specific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Offers practical exercise in the practice of summarizing for interpretation purposes. It examines strategies of retrieving useful linguistic information and/or terminology/phraseology from a source utterance with an aim or reconstructing an equal meaning in the target utterance. Texts of professional standards are employed for summarizing purposes. Students are also evaluated on their skills of performing the summarizing task while taking into account parameters such as discourse, context, and register. Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
The M.A. in Conference Interpreting at Hellenic American University addresses the need for trained conference interpreters stimulated by developments such as globalization, enlargement of the European Union and other cross-national institutions. The program consists of 12 courses and a dissertation and equips students with the theoretical foundation and practical skills in their language pairs. Intensive training is provided in the use of resources and equipment that interpreters encounter in professional settings such as bilingual and multilingual conferences. This course introduces M.A. students to the strategies and techniques of Consecutive Interpretation. It provides the tools necessary for developing Consecutive Interpretation skills and focuses on practical exercise, as well as familiarization with terminology stemming from various fields in both working languages (English, Greek). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Provides students with a foundational background in simultaneous interpretation situations. The first in a series of three courses, Simultaneous Interpretation I introduces students to sight translation and begins to help them develop techniques which will lead to success in the task of simultaneous interpreting. (This is a language pair-specific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Develops techniques and revisits issues to which students were introduced in the Simultaneous Interpretation I course. More specifically, students are trained in booth techniques and team interactions, and they master coordination skills in order to produce fluent and effective speech in the target language. (This is a language pair-specific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Builds upon the issues raised and techniques acquired throughout the Simultaneous Interpretation II course. In the third course of the Simultaneous Interpretation series, students are trained to handle various subject areas, styles and registers, and gain experience in working with long and information-rich texts. (This is a language pair-specific course). Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
The international system abounds with international organizations that shape world politics and international relations. When we think about international relations, we think primarily about the system of sovereign states. Although states have power, both military and economic, international organizations are attracting increasing attention for the ways they affect national decision-making and policies, and people’s lives in general. On many occasions interpreters are required to know what IOs are designed to do, their evolution, structure, and membership so as to accurately reflect the context of what they are called to interpret. In addition, it is the responsibility of interpreters to know the historical context of events that various speakers refer to as part of their presentations. Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
This course is designed to help students who are native speakers of English or speakers of English as a foreign language practice English language production and delivery best suited for EU interpreters. Rather than teach English grammar and vocabulary, this course is an opportunity for students to utilize their knowledge of English in producing language that is not only fluent and spontaneous overall but consistent with EU speechmaking in particular. Prerequisites: None Credits: 3
Builds upon the issues raised and techniques acquired throughout the Consecutive Interpretation courses. Develops techniques and revisits issues to which students were introduced in the Simultaneous Interpretation I course. More specifically, students are trained in booth techniques and team interactions, and they master coordination skills in order to produce fluent and effective speech in the target language in Simultaneous mode. Prerequisites: None Credits: 3

Dissertation or Internship (3 credits – 6 ECTS)

At the end of the taught part of the course, students will be required to write a 6,000-word thesis on a topic that will be agreed with their supervisor. Advice and guidance is given in formulating and refining the research topic, conducting research, analyzing data, literature review, and documentation of sources. The thesis offers students the opportunity to carry out independent research in an area of their interest and to apply the knowledge and the skills they have acquired to the investigation of a particular issue or problem. Prerequisites: All core and elective courses Credits: 3
Students at the Conference Interpreting program (MACI) can opt to participate in an internship for a minimum of 240 hours of supervised translation practice in the Newspaper I Kathimerini (web or printed edition) and its translation department. This seminar can be offered to students who have completed all core curriculum requirements. This internship will help students gain more insights as to the professional setting of translation and apply in practice methodologies they have learned throughout their coursework. Depending on the number of students opting for the internship there may be a selection process. To successfully pass this course, students need to complete 240 hours as interns in the newspaper and submit a portfolio of translations carried out during their tenure at the newspaper. Prerequisites: All core and elective courses Credits: 3

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