Dr Haiyan Liang
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2025 (05/01/2026 - 31/01/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- External
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
This course is designed for native speakers of Mandarin Chinese and its dialects who speak English as a second language. It introduces to students the fundamental skills in Chinese to English translation through a variety of media and genres, both oral and written, drawn from sources including television, film, and formal and informal written texts. Specific training will be given in the selection of context appropriate English expression. The course is divided into modules designed to give students training in the translation of different genres including texts drawn from areas such as the popular press, literature, fiction and film. Students will be introduced to general skills required for Chinese to English translation and translation revision, utilising theoretical concepts and contrastive linguistic analysis, translation issues relating to each genre and specific translation issues raised by texts under study. Students will be guided through the production of a linguistically and culturally appropriate, idiomatic translation of the source text. This course is not recorded.
The courseﾠis divided intoﾠmodules designed to give students training in the translation of different genres including texts drawn from areas such as the popular press,ﾠliterature,ﾠfictionﾠandﾠfilm.ﾠStudents will be introduced to general translation skills required for Chinese>English translation; translation issues relating to each genre; and specific translation issues raised by texts under study. ﾠStudents will be guided through the production of a linguistically and culturally appropriate, idiomatic translation of the source text, that would meet the expectations of translation clients and employers alike.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course is (only) for native speakers of Chinese and its dialects.ﾠ It assumes the ability to read and understand newspaper standard Chinese, and to ﾠunderstand primary audio texts such as film.
ﾠ
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
CHIN3300
Restrictions
Restricted to students who are native speakers of Chinese.
Course staff
Course coordinator
Ms May Zhang
Lecturer
Ms May Zhang
Dr Guangli Li
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Class allocation:
In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice.
Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable.
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Additional information and support can be found here.
Aims and outcomes
ﾠThis course aims to introduce to native speakers of Chinese the fundamental issues concerning translation and translation revision of common genres from Chinese into English.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
translate/revise common genres from Chinese into idiomatic English in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner
LO2.
access and understand the application of a variety of translation resources and conduct translation revision
LO3.
appreciate diasporic differences across genres
LO4.
have a basic grasp of Hanyu Pinyin
LO5.
understand traditional and simplified character Chinese texts
LO6.
have a basic linguistic vocabulary to talk about texts
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
E-quizzes
|
30% |
8/01/2026 5:00 pm 13/01/2026 5:00 pm 19/01/2026 5:00 pm 20/01/2026 5:00 pm 22/01/2026 5:00 pm 27/01/2026 5:00 pm 27/01/2026 5:00 pm 29/01/2026 5:00 pm 2/02/2026 5:00 pm
All assessment due dates and times follow Brisbane local time. If you are in another time zone, please make sure to check the time difference so you can submit your work on time. |
| Examination |
ONLINE In-semester exam
|
30% |
15/01/2026 8:00 pm
This 60-minute exam starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:00 (Brisbane time) on 15 January 2026. Please check your time zone carefully. |
| Examination |
ONLINE Final exam
|
40% |
9/02/2026 8:00 pm
This 60-minute exam starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:00 (Brisbane time) on 9 February 2026. Please check your time zone carefully. |
Assessment details
E-quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
8/01/2026 5:00 pm
13/01/2026 5:00 pm
19/01/2026 5:00 pm
20/01/2026 5:00 pm
22/01/2026 5:00 pm
27/01/2026 5:00 pm
27/01/2026 5:00 pm
29/01/2026 5:00 pm
2/02/2026 5:00 pm
All assessment due dates and times follow Brisbane local time. If you are in another time zone, please make sure to check the time difference so you can submit your work on time.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Multiple-choice and Translation Revision Quizzes:
An online quiz will be posted on the “Assessment” page on Blackboard at 8 am on the days of Units 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12. You must complete it by 5 pm on the next weekday.
There are two types of e-quizzes, depending on the unit covered:
1. Multiple-choice quiz
Following an even-numbered unit (Units 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12), the quiz will consist of 8 multiple-choice questions. These questions test material discussed in that unit’s and the preceding unit’s Online Modules.
Each question has only one correct answer.
2. Translation revision task
Following Units 7, 9, and 11, the quiz will take the form of a translation revision task. Students will be required to identify errors in a given translation and provide corrected versions.
For assessment purposes, only your best 7 e-quiz results will be counted toward the final mark for this assessment item.
Each e-quiz must be completed within 20 minutes without interruption. Please ensure you have a reliable internet connection before starting.
All assessment due dates and times follow Brisbane local time. If you are in another time zone, please make sure to check the time difference so you can submit your work on time.
AI and MT Statement
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Blackboard link.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
The results and answers of the e-quizzes will be published on due dates and the 7 best e-quiz results (out of 9) will be counted toward the final mark for this assessment item. Therefore no extensions or deferred options are available.
Late submission
This is a timed assessment that students access via a link in the Blackboard Assessment folder. Responses are automatically submitted when the 20-minute time limit has elapsed.
ONLINE In-semester exam
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
15/01/2026 8:00 pm
This 60-minute exam starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:00 (Brisbane time) on 15 January 2026. Please check your time zone carefully.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The in-semester assessment will test students' knowledge and understanding of all the Units 1- 5 course content, particularly the in-class materials. Students will translate seen texts or texts similar to the in-class materials (25% of exam content) and an unseen text (75% of exam content), based on Newspaper Texts 1 & 2, and Film Texts 1 & 2. The unseen text is approximately 320 characters in length. The texts will represent the different genres studied in Units 1-5 (i.e. news, film).
Exam is online on Blackboard. Be sure to access a reliable internet connection.
Once you start the exam you must complete it in 60 minutes in one go.
The use of online tools is permitted for this assessment. Assistance from any other person, however, is not allowed and will be treated as a breach of UQ’s Academic Integrity Policy.
AI and MT Statement
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
All assessment due dates and times follow Brisbane local time. If you are in another time zone, please make sure to check the time difference so you can submit your work on time.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Via Blackboard link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
This is a timed assessment that students access via a link in the Blackboard Assessment folder. Responses are automatically submitted when the 60-minute time limit has elapsed.
ONLINE Final exam
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
9/02/2026 8:00 pm
This 60-minute exam starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:00 (Brisbane time) on 9 February 2026. Please check your time zone carefully.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The final exam will test students' knowledge and understanding and application of the course content, particularly the in-class materials. Students will translate/revise seen texts or texts similar to the in-class materials (25% of exam content) and an unseen text (75% of exam content). The unseen text is approximately 320 characters in length. The texts will represent the different genres studied in the course (i.e. news, film, cartoon book and poem). Students may have access to lecture notes and paper dictionaries during the exam.
Exam is online on Blackboard. Be sure to access a reliable internet connection.
Once you start the exam you must complete it in 60 minutes in one go.
The use of online tools is permitted for this assessment. Assistance from any other person, however, is not allowed and will be treated as a breach of UQ’s Academic Integrity Policy.
AI and MT Statement
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
All assessment due dates and times follow Brisbane local time. If you are in another time zone, please make sure to check the time difference so you can submit your work on time.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
This is a timed assessment that students access via a link in the Blackboard Assessment folder. Responses are automatically submitted when the 60-minute time limit has elapsed.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student has not submitted work of any substance. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Frequent comprehension errors, not only of the nuances but also of major points. Failure to recognise and/or convey the dominant function of the source text, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters. Frequent grammatical errors cause the meaning to be unclear or misunderstood. Generally unnatural and awkward target text, and many spelling or punctuation mistakes. Very limited variety in use of expressions and synonyms, and often used inappropriately in the context. Fails to consider the discourse structure and no restructuring evident. Fails to pay attention to the connection between sentences. Inappropriate use of terminology, and obvious failure to conduct the necessary background research. In a professional workplace, the translations would be considered highly inaccurate and require so much checking and rewriting that it would not be considered viable. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Frequent comprehension errors, not only of the nuances but also of major points. Failure to satisfactorily recognise and/or convey the dominant function of the source text, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters. Frequent grammatical errors cause the meaning to be unclear or misunderstood. Generally unnatural and awkward target text, and many spelling or punctuation mistakes. Very limited variety in use of expressions and synonyms, and often used inappropriately in the context. Fails to consider the discourse structure and no restructuring evident. Fails to pay adequate attention to the connection between sentences. Inappropriate use of terminology, and obvious failure to conduct the necessary background research. In a professional workplace, the translations would be considered unsatisfactory and require inordinate checking and rewriting to make it viable. Less than half of the quiz answers are correct. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Only average source text comprehension, with a general lack of understanding of the nuances. Generally accurate in the broad details, but with notable omissions in many key areas, and many inaccuracies in the minor details. Partial recognition of the dominant source text function, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters, but with some distortion of this function evident. The meaning is sometimes clear, but many grammatical errors present. Frequent awkwardness in the translation, and frequent spelling or punctuation mistakes. Idioms and figurative language are often misunderstood and/or mistranslated. Limited variety in the use of expressions and synonyms, and they are not always used appropriately in the context. Rarely considers the discourse structure and no evidence of restructuring. Sometimes pays attention to the connection between sentences, albeit with many obvious errors. Few attempts at using appropriate terminology, and necessary background research appears lacking. In a professional workplace, the translations would require considerable checking and significant rewriting. Only half of the quiz questions are correct. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Good source text comprehension, including an understanding of some of the nuances and an ability to convey these nuances accurately, but with some errors or omissions in a few key areas which alter or detract from the source text meaning. Generally faithful to the dominant source text function, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters. A few instances of obvious grammatical errors. A few instances of awkwardness in the translation, and spelling or punctuation mistakes, which partially detract from the work as a whole. Some attempt to render idioms and figurative language, but not always with success. Limited variety in the use of expressions and synonyms. Rarely considers the discourse structure and the desirability of restructuring. Pays attention to the connection between sentences, albeit with a few major errors. Use of terminology is generally appropriate, and any necessary background research appears done in part. In a professional workplace, the translations would require checking and rewriting in a few key areas. Most of the quiz answers are correct. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Very good source text comprehension, including an understanding of most of the nuances and an ability to convey these nuances accurately, but with some minor errors or omissions which do not majorly alter or detract from the source text meaning. Generally faithful to the dominant source text function, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters. A few minor grammatical errors. Occasional awkwardness in the translation, and occasional spelling or punctuation mistakes, which do not detract significantly from the work as a whole. Attempts have been made to render idioms and figurative language. Variety in the use of expressions and synonyms, and generally used appropriately in the context. Often considers the discourse structure and the desirability of restructuring. Pays attention to the connection between sentences, albeit with some minor lapses. Use of terminology is generally appropriate, and any necessary background research appears to have been done. In a professional workplace, the translations would require some minor rewriting. Most of the quiz answers are correct. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Excellent source text comprehension, including an understanding of the nuances and an ability to convey these nuances accurately, without error. Faithful to the dominant function of the source text, be that defined in terms of the message, the style, the tone or other parameters. Negligible grammatical errors. Style is natural and acceptable, and there are virtually no spelling or punctuation mistakes. Idioms and figurative language are handled skilfully. Extensive range of expressions and synonyms, used appropriately in the context. Considers the discourse structure and the desirability of restructuring, and always pays attention to the connection between sentences. Use of terminology is always appropriate, without error, and any necessary background research has been done. Translations could be used in a professional workplace with little checking or rewriting. Nearly all of the quiz answers are correct. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
See course Blackboard site_Learning Resources
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Workshop |
WEEK 1 - (MONDAY) - Unit 1 (ONLINE MODULE 1 + Introduction to the course) Overview of course requirements and content. Introduction to key issues in Chinese>English translation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Workshop |
WEEK 1 - (WEDNESDAY) - Unit 2 (ONLINE MODULE 2 + Newspaper Text 1) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 1 - (FRIDAY) - Unit 3 (ONLINE MODULE 3 + Film Text 1) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 2 - (MONDAY) - Unit 4 (ONLINE MODULE 4 + Newspaper Text 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 2 - (WEDNESDAY) - Unit 5 (ONLINE MODULE 5 + Film Text 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 2 - (FRIDAY) - Unit 6 (ONLINE MODULE 6 + Translation Revision 1_Newstext3) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 3 - (MONDAY) - Unit 7 (ONLINE MODULE 7 + Comic book) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 3 - (WEDNESDAY) - Unit 8 (ONLINE MODULE 8 + Mid-semester Exam reflection) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 3 - (FRIDAY) - Unit 9 (ONLINE MODULE 9 + Translation Revision 2_Newstext4 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 4 - (MONDAY) - Unit 10 (ONLINE MODULE 10 + Literary Text) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 4 - (WEDNESDAY) - Unit 11 (ONLINE MODULE 11 + Film Text 3) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Workshop |
WEEK 4 - (FRIDAY) - Unit 12 Review for ONLINE Final Exam Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.