Dr Lucy Fraser
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
This is an upper advanced level course, for students who have completed JAPN3102 or equivalent. It introduces basic skills in Japanese/English interpreting and translation with some professional aspects of the practice. It aims to enhance students’ Japanese proficiency through interpreting and translation practices that involve listening, speaking, reading, writing and presentation skills.
Students participate in various individual and group activities in tutorials. Regular in-person participation is essential for successful completion of the course.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course is for students who have completed JAPN3102 or equivalent. Students who do not fulfil those prerequisites, but who have an equivalent knowledge of Japanese (e.g. from equivalent formal prerequisites gained interstate or overseas, or from residence in a Japanese-speaking country) are permitted to enrol in this course if they have been placed here via the online Language Course Placement Advisor.
Please also note that enrolment may be refused on the basis of such knowledge or abilities, and enrolment in a different course may be recommended. If a student enrols in a course for which they hold incompatible qualifications, they may be advised to cancel their enrolment, and continued enrolment may result in a forfeiture of credit for this course. Any misrepresentation in the placement process may be raised as a misconduct matter.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
JAPN3102
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
JAPN3290, JAPN3295
Course staff
Course coordinator
Lecturer
Dr Lucy Fraser
Dr Kayoko Hashimoto
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Available in Blackboard.
Public holidays:
Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.
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
Introduction to basic skills required for Japanese/English interpreting and translation with some professional aspects of the practice. It aims to enhance students’ Japanese language skills and cultural knowledgeﾠby using interpreting and translation training techniques that involve listening, speaking, reading, writing and presentation.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Collaborate with a partner or group to produce spoken and written work in Japanese.
LO2.
Reflect on and respond to feedback on your translation and interpreting work, and use this to improve.
LO3.
Demonstrate basic skills in Japanese/English interpreting and translation.
LO4.
Understand the role of interpreter and translator in the society.
LO5.
Demonstrate knowledge and respect for ethics and ethical standards of professional practitioners.
LO6.
Critically analyse texts within their sociohistorical contexts.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Role play/ Simulation |
Radio program transcription assignment
|
20% |
15/08/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 3 |
| Role play/ Simulation, Translation/ Interpretation |
Face-to-face interpreting dialogues
|
30% |
12/09/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 7 The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the completed dialogue with annotations, which is based on the in-class activity. Students who are unable to attend the class session should apply for an extension and contact the course coordinator to organise to complete the role-play during another week. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Translation/ Interpretation |
Translation Workshop Report
|
15% |
26/09/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 9 The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the report. Students who are unable to attend either of the workshops in WEEK 3 should contact the course coordinator to organise an alternative translation activity to report on. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation, Translation/ Interpretation |
Translation Presentation
|
35% |
21/10/2025 - 29/10/2025
Students are assigned a presentation slot in either WEEK 12 or WEEK 13. The annotated translation is due at 5pm on Tuesday, either WEEK 12 or WEEK 13, whichever is the day before your assigned presentation. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Radio program transcription assignment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Role play/ Simulation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
15/08/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 3
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05
Task description
Transcribe the first (or from the specified starting point) 800 characters each of the assigned two SBS Radio programs in Japanese. English speech (if any) is not included in the transcription. Use kanji as much as possible. Include annotations about your transcription challenges and choices.
Duration of task: It depends on the student's familiarity with Japanese radio programs, but it is expected to take about three hours each to complete the task.
See Blackboard for the link to the programs, guidelines for annotations, marking criteria, and other details.
AI and MT Statement
Note: While Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are useful tools for professionals and are addressed in this course, the focus is developing students' Japanese proficiency through translation and interpreting activities.
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
Upload a word document file in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension length of 7 calendar days will allow for students' suitable progression with their sequence of learning and preparation for the following assessment submission.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Face-to-face interpreting dialogues
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Role play/ Simulation, Translation/ Interpretation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
12/09/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 7
The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the completed dialogue with annotations, which is based on the in-class activity. Students who are unable to attend the class session should apply for an extension and contact the course coordinator to organise to complete the role-play during another week.
Task description
All students participate in the Role-play interpreting practices in the T02 (Wednesday) session in WEEK 6 and WEEK 7. After the role-play interpreting practices, students fill the interpreter’s sections of the dialogues. Use the template. Write at least five annotations (comments/explanations) each for your translation (in English) in the right column.
The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the completed dialogue with annotations, which is based on the in-class activity. Students who are unable to attend the class session should apply for an extension and contact the course coordinator to organise to complete the role-play during another week.
Annotation examples:
- The original word is 親戚の浅野さん. As no information available about gender, I assumed it is a woman and used “she” here.
- The original utterance was quite long. I decided to break it into two parts.
AI and MT Statement
Note: While Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are useful tools for professionals and are addressed in this course, the focus is developing students' Japanese proficiency through translation and interpreting activities.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) technologies in preparation, it is not recommended as it will not adequately prepare them for the in-person component of this assessment. 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.
The use of generative AI or MT tools in the in-person component of this assessment will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
In order to pass the course, students are required to participate in the role-play interpreting practices in W6 & 7 and submit assessable work for the written dialogue task.Submission guidelines
Upload a word document file in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension length of 7 calendar days will allow for students' suitable progression with their sequence of learning and preparation for the following assessment submission.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Translation Workshop Report
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Translation/ Interpretation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
26/09/2025 1:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 9
The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the report. Students who are unable to attend either of the workshops in WEEK 3 should contact the course coordinator to organise an alternative translation activity to report on.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
All students participate in one translation workshop in WEEK 3, on either Friday 15 August or Saturday 16 August (see Blackboard for details). After participating, they submit a short written report which includes: new vocabulary and grammar acquired, translation challenges, solutions proposed, and a reflection on the process of group translation.
See Blackboard for the link to the guidelines for the report, marking criteria, and other details.
The due date provided for this assessment is for submitting the report. Students who are unable to attend either of the workshops in WEEK 3 should contact the course coordinator to organise an alternative translation activity to report on.
AI and MT Statement
Note: While Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are useful tools for professionals and are addressed in this course, the focus is developing students' Japanese proficiency through translation and interpreting activities.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) technologies in preparation, it is not recommended as it will not adequately prepare them for the in-person component of this assessment. 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.
The use of generative AI or MT tools in the in-person component of this assessment will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Upload a Word document file in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Translation Presentation
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation, Translation/ Interpretation
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
21/10/2025 - 29/10/2025
Students are assigned a presentation slot in either WEEK 12 or WEEK 13.
The annotated translation is due at 5pm on Tuesday, either WEEK 12 or WEEK 13, whichever is the day before your assigned presentation.
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Select a text to translate from the options provided on Blackboard in WEEK 10 (for students presenting in Week 12) and WEEK 11 (for students presenting in Week 13).
Translate the text and annotate the translation, including: new vocabulary and grammar acquired, translation challenges, and solutions proposed. Students submit their written work by 5pm on the day before their presentation.
Give a presentation (maximum 3 minutes), in Week 12 or Week 13 T02 (Wednesday) tutorial:
- summarise the annotated translation (ie key translation challenges and solutions)
- compare your experience of group translation (used in the week 3 workshop) to individual translation (used for this task)
- reflect on how you used feedback on your Translation Workshop Report to improve your translation.
Presentations will be followed by Q&A and class discussion on the points raised.
This task includes peer assessment, and students are marked on their participation in the class discussion and efforts providing feedback for others.
AI and MT Statement
Note: While Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are useful tools for professionals and are addressed in this course, the focus is developing students' Japanese proficiency through translation and interpreting activities.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) technologies in preparation, it is not recommended as it will not adequately prepare them for the in-person component of this assessment. 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.
The use of generative AI or MT tools in the in-person component of this assessment will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Upload a word document file of your annotated translation on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
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: A student awarded this grade has usually been absent from class for a considerable period and has not completed the required assessment items. You have failed to satisfy any of the objectives of the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A student awarded this grade has usually been absent from class for a considerable period and has not completed the required assessment items. Speaking and writing are highly simplified and halting. You have failed to satisfy most of the basic objectives of the course. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Speaking and writing show an extremely narrow range of structures and expressions with frequent errors. Speaking and writing are simplified and halting . You have completed most of the required assessment items, but have not satisfied the required level of achievement. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Speaking and writing show a narrow range of structures and expressions with accuracy and fluency fluctuating considerably from activity to activity. You have shown commitment and willingness to all the required assessment items and have demonstrated a satisfactory level of competency. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Speaking and writing show a range of structures and expressions, but accuracy and fluency fluctuate considerably from activity to activity. You have shown commitment and willingness to all the required assessment items and have demonstrated a good level of competency with the objectives of the course. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Speaking and writing show a wide range of structures and expressions, but accuracy and fluency sometimes fluctuate. You have shown confidence and commitment to all the required assessment items, and have demonstrated all of the essentials and most of the desirables with a good level of competency and accuracy. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Speaking and writing show a wide range of structures and expressions accurately and fluently. You have shown confidence, flair and commitment to all the required assessment items, and have demonstrated all the objectives with a high level of competency and accuracy. 85-100% |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
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
Online Japanese news (Asahi, Nikkei etc.) is useful for further practices for this course.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Tutorial |
Week 1: Introduction to the course, and Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Tutorial |
Week 3: Introduction to Translation Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) only. No Tutorial 2 as Wednesday is a public holiday. Attend a Translation Workshop instead. |
Not Timetabled |
Week 3: ATTENDANCE TO TRANSLATION WORKSHOPS All students participate in one of the translation workshops , which will be open to the public, in WEEK 3. Students can attend on either Friday 15 August OR Saturday 16 August (see Blackboard for details). This will be the topic of the Translation Workshop Report assessment. |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Tutorial |
Week 4: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday). Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Interpreting Role Play: Dialogue 1 Tutorial 2 (Wednesday): Interpreting Role Play assessment |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Interpreting Tutorial 1 (Tuesday). |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Interpreting Role Play: Dialogue 2 Tutorial 2 (Wednesday): Interpreting Role Play assessment |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Tutorial |
Week 9: Translation Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Tutorial |
Week 10: Translation Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Tutorial |
Week 11: Translation. Tutorial 1 (Tuesday) and Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Translation Tutorial 1 (Tuesday). |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Translation Presentations Translation Presentations, discussions, and peer assessment held in Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Tutorial |
Week 13: Translation Tutorial 1 (Tuesday). |
Tutorial |
Week 13: Translation Presentations Translation Presentations, discussions, and peer assessment held in Tutorial 2 (Wednesday). |
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
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.