English Language and Translation Department:
The Department of English Language and Translation at the Applied Science Private University is the first academic Department in private universities that has two bachelor degree programs (English Language and Literature / English Language and Translation). The Department has highly qualified academic staff members that cover both majors. The Department was established in 1991 within the languages department, and then it became an individual department in 1993. It was accredited explicitly in 1994.
The Department has two modern computer language labs, one for simultaneous and consecutive translation and the other is used for phonetics and other language activities including grammar and reading.
Most of the Department's students are Jordanian. On the other hand, the Department has a reasonable number of Arab students who were attracted by the University's reputation and the Department's. Besides, the students were able to acquire jobs easily due to their qualifications and efficiency. The capacity of the English Language and Translation major is 480 students, while the English Language and Literature major's capacity is 140 students.
Mission
The Department's mission is to enhance language skills providing high standard education to develop highly qualified and distinguished teachers of English and translators/interpreters according to high international standards. These standards should meet and integrate both national and international standards to acquire high regional and worldwide recognition through the programs rigorous yet diverse activities. Graduates of the English Language and Translation Program (translators / interpreters / teachers) shall contribute effectively to the national development and progress of the country, the region and the whole world. Moreover, encouraging scientific research is one of the factors that can develop the country.
Aims
1) Prepare efficient English Language specialists who appreciate and implement honesty, accuracy and integrity when handling both English and Arabic languages with the utmost care, skill and professionalism.
2) Equip the students with the skills to cope with the latest development in the field.
3) Develop the students' communication and language skills.
4) Provide students with the skills of analysis, synthesis and critical thinking to enable them appreciate and evaluate texts.
5) Encourage students to value and appreciate teamwork and spirit of cooperation.
6) Establish channels of communication between the graduates and their local communities.
7) Equip the students with the personal and professional development traits for future career lines and job market.
8) Enrich graduates' knowledge of the English language and its culture
What Distinguishes the Department and its Plan:
The English Language and Literature major consists of 136 credit hours. The students study various subjects (88) of which are intensively about American Literature, Novel, Short Story, Classical and International Literature, The play, and other subjects which the students can view on their study plan which exists on the University's website. The students also undertake a Field Training course of (3) credit hours which aims at developing the students' communication and scientific skills and preparing them for the job market. The training is done through schools and supervised by the academic staff members in the Department to enhance the students' teamwork, working under pressure, and time management skills. Following the University's vision, the scientific research course exists to sharpen the students' scientific research skills.
As to the English Language and Translation major, the study plan consists of (136) credit hours which include 15 courses specializing in all translations sectors starting with the introduction to translation, general translation, and followed by more specialized translation courses such as legal, literary, scientific, religious, touristic, simultaneous, consecutive, and audiovisual translation in addition to the scientific research course which teaches the students how to write scientific researches for their level and masters level programs. The students' translation skills are also sharpened by the field training program where they can join various institutions within the labour market such as newspapers, translation agencies, and even within the Department under the supervision of the academic staff members of the Department. This is due to the old-time period in which the Department was established and the number of years of experience gained by faculty members during this period.The Department was keen to appoint faculty members with excellent experience in the field of translation, which contributed to the development of study plans and learning and education strategies used.
The Department has distinguished itself through the past 28 teas with the academic staff members' supervision over students while writing their graduation researches and field training. The academic staff members have given the best they have of ideas and research outcomes. Among their latest research accomplishments, the research papers which some of the academic staff members discussed during the joint conference between the English Language and Translation Department and the Association of Jordanian Translators, Interpreters and Applied Linguists. The conference was a chance to unveil the academic staff's research skill in writing and supervising students by encouraging them to participate in their papers in such conferences.
It is known that academic staff members of the Department are well aware of the developments in the field of technology and translation, and their experience in using advanced programs in the field of audiovisual translation. An excellent example of that would be what the students have achieved during the last summer semester as the training plan was aimed at exposing the students to various translation skills, including dubbing. Besides, the academic staff's experience is attested for locally. The Department has attracted the English Language teachers in Amman with seminars and contests which they held, and of them was the Young Translator Contest. This contest has had an excellent evaluation and a great desire of joining from many teachers to attend other seminars in the University under the supervision of the outstanding academic staff members in the Department.
The Department has sought to sign various agreements to gain more significant experience in the job market for each of the students and department members based on their belief in the importance of learning and education. Thus, the Department has signed an agreement with the Association of Jordanian Translators, Interpreters and Applied Linguists, Rosetta Production Company, E-Arabization, and renowned Turkish universities. Therefore, giving the students and the academic staff members the chance to interact and learn different teaching methods and cultures and suggesting new ideas to enhance this experience and exchanging expertise. Also, the Department has signed an agreement with Katie's Readers Initiative which is considered a unique experience for the Department's students which combines the spirit of volunteering and gaining teaching experience within the less fortunate governmental schools in Amman.
The purpose of teaching two majors:
- 1- Preparing highly qualified English Language and Translation experts who are confident of themselves according to the best international standards.
- 2- Preparing highly qualified and skilled translators in the field of simultaneous and written translation.
- 3- Devloping the updating the Department's programs continuously in terms of programs and teaching methods.
- 3- Enhancing the language-based communication skills for students, and equipping them with a broad base of language knowledge in both languages.
- 4- Equipping the graduates with critical skills and critical thinking to enable them to analyze the texts they deal with and evaluate them properly and effectively.
- 5- Training graduates to practice free academic thinking and to appreciate teamwork by spreading the spirit of collaboration between them and their community.
- 6- Establishing communication channels between the graduates and their local communities, including the University.
- 7- Enriching the graduates' knowledge of Western culture through language and literature.
- 8- Acquainting students with the concept of scientific research, its foundations and its application skills
- 9- Equipping the students with the scientific experience before graduation by training them the language laboratories or in the Ministry of Education's schools.
- 10- Fitting the requirements fo the job market and following up with the discoveries through updating and developing educational programs in the Department.
- 11- Developing student skills in analysis, construction, extraction, and thought organization as the most critical educational skills they shall need in their career.
- 12- Putting the student in a new cultural framework from which he chooses what suits him and suits his original cultural context.
- 13- Develop the student's way of thinking about the fact that life has many perspectives on various topics.
- 14 Developing the student's abilities to plan and organize in various fields and direct him towards developing a theoretical plan for each scientific project.
- 15- Developing creative abilities in the skills required in the speciality.
The Entities the Student Can Work WithAfter Completing the Program:
- Schools.
- Embassies.
- International Organizations.
- Companies.
- Universities.
- Local Community Institutions.
- Press and Media.