Academic teaching in Translation and Interpreting in Russia: Student expectations and market reality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for translator and interpreter competence in an ever-changing professional environment and provide recommendations to improve academic teaching in translation and interpreting in Russian universities in order to meet the needs of the language industry. To this end, the author discusses the results of three surveys carried out in 2017-2018. In the first survey, chief executives and vendor managers of major Russian translation companies share their experience of hiring university graduates. In the second survey, young professionals entering the Russian translation and interpreting market reflect on their university experience versus the expectations they had when enrolling in translation and interpreting programs. In the third survey, teachers of translation and interpreting from Russian universities reflect on existing academic programs in translation and interpreting.

Keywords

• translation
• interpreting
• translator and interpreter training
• language industry
• translation theory
• translation practice