Enhancing Translation Skills: A Key to English Faculty Students’ Professional Growth

The seminar “Translation – From Theory to Practical Application”, organized on December 13 by the HUTECH Interpreting & Translation (HIT) Club under the Faculty of English at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), served not only as an enriching academic platform but also as a foundation for students to sharpen their professional skills and gain confidence in pursuing careers in translation and interpreting.

The seminar opened with the topic “Translating Songs,” presented by Mr. Ngô Bình Anh Khoa – Lecturer and Head of the HIT Club. He shared with students fundamental theories of translation in general and song translation in particular. Key translation principles were introduced, drawing from renowned theorists such as Henry Drinker (1952), Andrew Kelly (1992), Peter Low (2005), and Akerstrom (2009), offering students a multifaceted view of diverse global approaches to translation.

Mr. Ngô Bình Anh Khoa Shares Theoretical Insights on General and Song Translation

Translation is the process of converting information from one language into another. Throughout this process, the translator must ensure certain principles are upheld, including conveying the meaning, emotion, structure, and tone of the original text accurately and appropriately. Similarly, song translation must adhere to these same principles to preserve the intended content and avoid misleading the listener regarding the song’s meaning or message.

As part of the live workshop, Mr. Khoa used the song “Nhật ký của mẹ” (Mother’s Diary) by Nguyễn Văn Chung as an example for practical application. Together with the students, he explored the translation of the lyrics from Vietnamese to English while examining differences in rhyme, rhythm, and pronunciation. He also emphasized the importance of staying true to the intended message of the original author, encouraging students to be creative and flexible without compromising the meaning of the original text.

With the theme “Speed Translation Race,” Mr. Đỗ Mạnh Cương – a member of the HIT Club – led an interactive group activity where students translated both Vietnamese and English texts under time constraints. Each group consisted of four members, each assigned a specific role: translator, recorder, timekeeper, and presenter.

Mr. Đỗ Mạnh Cương Guides Students in Group-Based Translation of Vietnamese and English Texts

The translation topics spanned a wide range of fields, including culture, environment, technology, and commerce. This not only helped students enhance their translation skills but also fostered teamwork and broadened their understanding of current market trends.

Students Eagerly Engage in Hands-On Translation Practice

The seminar continued with an insightful session on “Translating Headlines,” where a member of the HIT Club guided students through common mistakes often made when translating news articles. These included grammatical and vocabulary errors, misinterpretation of the author’s intent, incorrect sentence structure, and lack of cultural understanding of the source country.

The speaker also provided practical solutions to overcome these issues—starting with skimming the article to grasp the main idea, summarizing the key points, identifying relevant keywords related to the topic, and then rewriting the headline in the target language.

Program Equips Students with Essential Skills for Career Development

The seminar “Translation – From Theory to Practical Application” not only provided English Faculty students with foundational knowledge in translation theory but also created valuable opportunities to practice and apply these skills in real-world scenarios.

This knowledge serves as a crucial stepping stone for students aspiring to enter the field of translation and interpretation, while also preparing them to meet the growing demands of today’s job market.

Written by: Hoài Như
Photos by: Hữu Khoa
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