Innovation in Language Learning

Students who study translation in a university often experience difficulties with translation studies terms. These terms are quite complicated and many of them have no direct equivalents in other languages. To help students to better understand and memorize translation studies terms a project on creating a multi-language glossary of these terms was suggested. The second task was to develop their terminological skills in the course of glossary creation. A group of master students made a translation studies terms glossary in the SDL MultiTerm format. SDL MultiTerm is a terminology management tool that is used worldwide by translators, terminologists and other specialists to extract terminology automatically, find terms and create custom glossaries. This tool can help students to create multi-language terminology data bases in order to use them both in their study and in translation practice.

The group of 15 master students worked on the project during an academic term. They selected 100 translation studies terms most widely used in books and articles by Russian scholars. The terms include basic translation terms, names of translation techniques and types of translation. The students have to find their definitions and examples of usage in 5 languages: Russian, English, German, French, and Spanish. Initially they made it in a Google spreadsheet, and then it was converted into the SDL MultiTerm format. The final product is available online for the students who can use it to get prepared for their examinations and as a reference source in their translation practice. It is also available online for other people who need it.

As a result of the project the students got new knowledge and skills in multi-language lexicography, they learnt the SDL MultiTerm format and got some new knowledge in translation studies. They also improved their team work skills and acquired some project management skills.