Philological School of Higher Education in Wrocław

MA Spanish Language and Literature Studies program is offered in three specialisations:

• Specialised Translation Studies: Polish-Spanish, Spanish-Polish
• Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language
• general specialisation (free choice of all available courses, with not specified profesional profile)

MA seminars provided in the program comprise linguistics, applied linguistics, literary studies and culture studies.

Full-time programs involve 15 weeks of regular classes per semester. Classes are usually scheduled in three days, between Monday and Friday. Students sign up online for all courses in September choosing a seminar package (available seminars in literature, culture, linguistic, translation, teaching, specialization courses, form of some courses (online or face-to-face) etc.

Part-time programs involve 8 weekends of classes per semester. Classes are held Saturday-Sunday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students sign up online for courses in September choosing time of classes, specialization courses, or the form of some courses (online or face-to-face) etc. Distance education platform provides wide possibility of attending online courses.

Spanish Language and Literature Studies – Specialised Translation: Polish-Spanish, Spanish-Polish

Master Programs (2nd cycle), part-time; good command of Polish and Spanish required (min. C1 CEFR)

The program includes compulsory core courses, optional course units/modules (either practice or research oriented) and extracurricular courses. A student of the program has to register for a minimum of 4 full specialised translation courses accumulating at least 24 ECTS credits. Having completed the program, a graduate can continue study at third-cycle level (PhD program) or start a professional career in translation or language-related industry.

Program objectives:

• To equip students with theoretical and practice-based knowledge on translation and intercultural communication.
• To develop students’ language and metalinguistic awareness as well as the awareness of translator’s and interpreter’s role in modern society.
• To provide a chance for translation practice and guided training as well as give students a wide range of self-development and career-development tools.

Main focus of the program is on specialized and professional translation within the following disciplines and thematic scopes: medicine, law and EU, economics, construction, business, media, arts, literature and research preparation (research in translation and specialist language also possible) in the form of MA dissertation.

Students will:

• Improve their proficiency in Spanish within receptive skills (listening, reading) and productive skills (speaking, writing) to level C2 CEFR, including the use of advanced vocabulary, forms, structures, idioms, etc., as well as specialised field terminology in law, business, medicine, etc.
• Gain thorough knowledge of latest research in the chosen field of study: linguistics, applied linguistics, literary or culture studies.
• Perform advanced research tasks, work on research papers/MA thesis with high awareness of intellectual rights protection and ethics of conducting research.
• Increase awareness of the translator’s social role, ethical and professional standards as well as responsibility for translation tasks.
• Be able to evaluate and differentiate between translational strategies and to adopt them with respect to text functions and priorities.
• Develop translational justification skills, define and evaluate translation problems as well as successfully approach translational problem solutions.
• Effectively handle a document submitted for translation: summarise, outline, paraphrase, post-edit, proofread, etc.
• Broaden their knowledge and develop professional skills in specialist fields covered during translation workshops.
• Perform translation of various documents from Polish to Spanish and from Spanish to Polish.
• Translate typical legal documents submitted for sworn translation, keeping professional certified translation standards.
• Be able to critically review the linguistic and stylistic quality, clarity and coherence of translations, working both individually and in a team.
• Learn to care for high linguistic standards, professional correctness, accuracy and formal adequacy of translated texts.
• Understand the interdisciplinary nature of translation studies and notice interdependencies among various areas of knowledge.

Future career:

The acquired skills and knowledge enable graduates to pursue career in the following professions a translator and interpreter, an employee in publishing and mass-media companies, an assistant in international companies, an employee in local, state and EU administrative institutions, in higher education and research institutions and in a wide range of other industries where intercultural knowledge and native-like Spanish skills are required.

Spanish Language and Literature Studies – Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (TSFL)

Master Program (2nd cycle), part-time

TSFL Program is offered to candidates with prior academic record in education and teaching (for example BA diploma in TSFL holders). The program includes compulsory core courses, optional course units/modules (either practice or research oriented) and extracurricular courses. A student of the program has to register for TSFL module for stages of education 3 and 4 (gymnasium and post-gymnasium education), including psychology and pedagogy, didactics, teacher training. Having completed the program, a graduate can continue study at third-cycle level (PhD program) or start a professional career in translation or language-related industry.

A graduate of TSFL program possesses native-like command of Spanish at level C2 CEFR and adequate education in the field of Spanish methodology. He or she obtains appropriate preparation for Spanish teaching, is familiar with a wide range of stimulating activities supporting a teaching and educational process and is capable of performing duties of care and education. Thanks to the variety of optional courses a student can design his additional study profile and participate in for example specialized translation courses.

On completion of TSFL program a graduate obtains rights to do a teaching job in all types of schools and institutions, as given in the Regulation of the Minister of National Education on specific qualifications required from teachers. Moreover, the acquired skills and knowledge enable graduates to pursue career in international companies and institutions, mass-media and in a wide range of other industries where intercultural knowledge and native-like Spanish language skills are required.