Exploring the Training of Translator
Trainers: A Content Analysis
LIU Shuang
ABSTRACT
Despite the blossoming of translator training
programs worldwide in recent decades, there is a conspicuous dearth
of studies on the professional development of translator trainers.
This study explored the continuing development training programs
targeted at translator trainers in China in recent five years
through content analysis of the program announcements, and reported
what is taught, who organize the programs and who lead the training
courses. The results reveal that instrumental competence and
knowledge of the translation industry are underscored prominently.
Meanwhile, they unveiled translator trainer competences of local
characteristics: embedding ideological education in the course,
pedagogy in thesis writing and assessment, as well as teaching
students to pass Certificate of China Accreditation Test for
Translators and Interpreters (CATTI). The second finding is that
universities and translation associations are the mainstay of
organizing training programs while Language Service Providers (LSP)
are increasingly engaged in the organization. The third finding is
the majority of the course leaders are scholars from universities
and research institutes while a significant proportion of the course
leaders are from LSPs. This study is expected to fill the gap by
providing the landscape of the training of translator trainers and
how the training serves local and international needs.
Keywords: translator trainer; teacher development; translator
trainer competence; translator trainer training
