Developing new learning resources for the linguistic mediators' training in modern social environment

Abstract

The topicality of the research is stipulated by the challenges of bringing the educational content and learning materials in line with the needs that young translators and interpreters have entering the labour market in modern fast developing society. The article aims to analyze from students' perspective the practical value and effectiveness of the learning materials for language mediators' training developed on the basis of the new content-focused technology in comparison to learning materials developed within the framework of the traditional approach. The methodology of the research included survey based experiment as well as the method of statistic data processing. The experiment involved the students doing their master degree course on Public Service Interpreting and Translation (total number of the participants is 30 students). The experiment was conducted in several stages including two surveys: the entry survey focused on obtaining the students' feedback on their general satisfaction with traditional learning materials, students' assessment of the materials' effectiveness for training as well as identifying particular areas of professional interest and respective needs; the second survey elicited students' responses concerning the effectiveness of the proposed new materials. The research enhances the awareness of the specific characteristics of the public services setting for training lingo cultural mediators. Practical learning materials were worked out and implemented into practice. The correlated training of interpreting and translation skills was proved. Based on the results obtained in the course of the experiment the authors propose new content focused approach to developing learning materials which constitutes practical outcomes of the research. The article had both theoretical and practical value as the theoretical background and the proposed methodology can be applied to developing training courses on translation and interpreting in various professional domains.