The Teaching and Learning of Interpreting in China’s Mainland: The Teaching and Learning of Interpreting in China’s Mainland Dr. Irene A. Zhang Conference Interpreter Associate Professor Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation (GIIT) Shanghai International Studies University (SHISU) Juliet H. Sun Freelance Interpreter Assistant Lecturer College of Foreign Languages Zhejiang Normal University


China’s Revitalisation: China’s Revitalisation 1978: Reform and opening up policy 1979: The UN Training Program for Interpreters and Translators set up in Beijing 1980s: Ideological fight: socialism vs. capitalism Spring, 1992: Deng Xiaoping’s southern trip to Shenzhen “A cat that catches mice is a good cat; it doesn’t matter whether it is black or yellow” (“Cat Theory”) “It is my fault that Shanghai was not opened earlier” socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics December, 1993: Shanghai’s first viaduct completed—wave of infrastructure construction: Shanghai’s takeoff Multinational companies (MNCs) started to swarm in


Unprecedented International engagement: Unprecedented International engagement September 1999, Fortune Forum in Shanghai International and regional conferences Annual meetings by MNCs Reception Parties Seminars Symposiums Exhibitions & Expositions


Unprecedented International engagement: Unprecedented International engagement December 11, 2001: China’s accession into WTO 2008: Olympic Games in Beijing 2010: World Expo in Shanghai …


Unprecedented International engagement: Unprecedented International engagement Demand for interpreters!


Status Quo of Interpreter Training in China: Status Quo of Interpreter Training in China 3 Scenarios Academic departments of Universities Professional training programs Profit-oriented, non-academic social training organizations


Interpreting as an academic subject: Interpreting as an academic subject 2000: Interpreting was made a compulsory course by China’s Ministry of Education


“211 Project”: 100 best universities in the 21st century: “211 Project”: 100 best universities in the 21st century All universities have an English department or equivalent; Those offering interpreting as an academic subject Beijing: 3 (out of 19) Shanghai: 4 (out of 11) 1 in Zhejiang Guangdong: 2 (out of 4) Fujian : 1(out of 2)


Beijing: Beijing 3: Beijing Foreign Language Studies University University of International Business and Economics Beijing Institute of Diplamatic Relations


Shanghai: Shanghai 4: Fudan University Jiaotong University Shanghai International Studies University East China Normal University


And …: And … 2 in Zhejiang (Zhejiang University, and Zhejiang Normal University), 2 in Guangdong (Guangdong University of Foreign Languages and Trade, and Zhongshan University), 1 in Fujian (Xiamen University)


Profit-oriented training organizations: Profit-oriented training organizations New Orient English School (HQ in Beijing) Only One in Shanghai Others…


Number of Shanghai Intermediate & Advanced Interpretation Test Takers : Number of Shanghai Intermediate & Advanced Interpretation Test Takers


Professional interpreter training programs in China : Professional interpreter training programs in China Beijing Foreign Studies University Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation, Shanghai International Studies University Guangdong University of Foreign Languages and Trade


Typological differences and stumbling blocks in SI: Typological differences and stumbling blocks in SI Chinese： verb-driven left-branched high context topic-prominent discourse oriented    specific English： noun-driven Right-branched low context subject-prominent sentence oriented abstract


A case in point: A case in point Co-verb Zhongguo dui guojishehui yiqie youliyu huanhe jinzhangjushi，pingxi chongtu,huifu hetan de nuli biaoshi huanyin. 中国对国际社会一切有利于缓和紧张局势，平息冲突，恢复和谈的努力表示欢迎. The international community has been working towards …….China welcomes all its efforts in this regard.


A case in point: A case in point Decoy object Zhongguo jianjuezhichi Dongmeng geguo yiji qitaguojia tichu de yiqie youliyu gongzheng heli jiejue Chaoxian wenti de jianyi he zhuzhang. 中国坚决支持东盟各国以及其他国家提出的一切有利于公正合理解决朝鲜问题的建议和主张。 China resolutely supports ASEAN and other countries in their efforts to resolve the Korean issue as well as all the proposals they put forward which are conducive to the just and reasonable solution of the question of Korea. 或： China resolutely supports ASEAN and other countries when they put forward all the proposals which will help the just and proper solution of the Korean question.


Additional notes…: Additional notes… Conference Interpreting does have a bright future, not orange There is a need for professional interpreters to contribute to the teaching and training of next-generation qualified interpreters With more than 4 decades experience and expertise in interpreter training, University of Westminster will see continued success well into the future, esp. in the Chinese market.