REDESIGNING TRANSLATION COURSES FORTHE STUDY PROGRAM OF ARABIC EDUCATION
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MALANG
Introduction
The vision of the Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE) at State University of Malang is to make itself a center of excellence and a reference institution in the fields of education, research, and application of science and technology related to the program with the view to meet the demands of the society for professional teachers. Accordingly, the mission of The Study Program is to carry out education with the major purpose of producing high-quality graduates who professional in teaching, research, and community service. Moreover, these graduates are ready to compete in the labor market which demands high proficiency in their field of specialization (SPAE 2002).
Glancing at the curriculum of the Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE) at the above University, you will find it consist of linguistics, literature, cultural studies, language skills, Arabic language teaching, elective courses: translation, Islamic education, calligraphy, Arabic for young learners, Arabic for special purposes and Computer and internet. This article is written with the aim of redesigning Translation Courses of this Study Program by exploring standards for Arabic as a foreign language teaching and comparing a curriculum on Translation Courses at the Study Program of Education and the Study Program of English Language and Literature at State University of Malang.
Exploring Standards
Exploring Standards, Arabic as a foreign language teaching at State University of Malang should use The Common European Framework (CEFR). It divides learners into three broad divisions which can be divided into six levels: (A) Basic Speaker: A1 Breakthrough, A2 Way Stage; (B) Independent Speaker: B1 Threshold, B2 Vantage; (C) Proficient Speaker: C1 Effective Operational Proficiency, C2 Mastery (Wikipedia). The CEFR describes what a leaners is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level.
| Level | Description |
| A1 | Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. |
| A2 | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describes in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
| B1 | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanation for opinions and plans. |
| B2 | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| C1 | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
| C2 | Can understand with ease virtually everything heard of read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. |
Deutsche Welle (sponsored by the German government) suggests A-1 is reached with about 75 hours of German study. A-2.1 about 150 hours. A-2.2 about 225 hours. B-1.1 about 300 hours. B-1.2 about 400 hours. These descriptors can apply to any of the languages spoken in Europe, and there are translations in many languages. Therefore, Arabic as a foreign language can adapt the CEFR and I think the Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE) at State University of Malang can only adapt up to level B1/Independent speaker/Threshold.
The Curriculum of Translation Courses
Comparing a curriculum on Translation Courses at two Study Programs is a simple way to know its quality. Therefore, the author presents the curriculum of both the Study Program of Arabic Education and the Study Program of English Language and Literature at State University of Malang.
- The Study Program of Arabic Education
ARK435 Tarjamah, 2 sks, 2 js. Prasyarat: ARK429
Mahasiswa memahami hakikat penerjemahan serta terampil menerjemahkan teks dari bahasa Arab ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. Topik bahasan meliputi: kedepadanan bentuk dan makna serta latihan penerjemahan teks bahasa Arab sederhana.
Elective Courses (13 credits, 13 hours)
ARK442 Teknik Penerjemahan, 2 sks 2 js, Prasyarat: ARK430
Mahasiswa memahami teori penerjemahan serta terampil menerjemahkan teks dari bahasa Arab ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. Topik bahasan meliputi pengertian, proses penerjemahan, dan metode penerjemahan.
ARK443 Gramatika dalam Penerjemahan, 2 sks 2 js. Prasyarat: -
Mahasiswa mendalami pola-pola struktur gramatika bahasa Arab, khususnya yang tidak mempunyai padanan langsung dalam bahasa Indonesia, dan mampu menerjemahkannya ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. Topik bahasannya meliputi: kata, frase dan kalimat yang mempunyai padanan langsung; kata, frase, dan kalimat yang tidak mempunyai padanan langsung; bentuk-bentuk khusus.
ARK444 Peristilahan dalam Penerjemahan, 2 sks 2 js. Prasyarat: -
Mahasiswa memahami perihal gramatikal dan penerjemahannya. Topik bahasannya meliputi konjungsi, preposisi, kata keterangan, kalimat aktif dan pasif, frase, klausa bahasa Arab dan bahasa Indonesia.
ARK445 Latihan Penerjemahan, 3 sks 4 js. Prasyarat: -
Mahasiswa dapat menerjemahkan secara tertulis wacana ilmiah popular dan artikel ilmiah dari bahasa Arab ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. Topik bahasannya meliputi tema-tema politik, ekonomi, sosial-budaya, kebahasaan, pendidikan dan lain-lain.
ARK446 Tugas Akhir Penerjemahan, 4 sks 4 js. Prasyarat: -
Mahasiswa dapat menerjemahkan buku-buku bahasa Arab ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. Topik bahasannya meliputi tema-tema politik, ekonomi, sosial-budaya, kebahasaan, pendidikan dan lain-lain.
- The Study Program of English Language and Literature
IGB436 Translation I, 2 credits, 2 hours (required)
Prerequisite: IGB415
The course is designed to provide the students with competence in translating different types of written texts of up to pre-intermediate level of difficulty from English into Indonesian. It develops students’ knowledge of the basic theory, concept, and technique of translation. The translation practice materials will emphasize grammatical, lexical, and textual adjustments. In addition, the course provides the students with knowledge of using dictionaries and other sources.
IGB437 Translation II, 2 credits, 2 hours (required)
Prerequisite: IGB436
The course is designed to increase the students’ competence in translating various types of written materials in business, including legal business documents. The training will involve translation from English into Indonesian and from Indonesian into English of various written texts: blending and clipping, acronyms, idioms of general English and of business English, and various business English (memos, minutes, business texts, letters).
IGB461 Translation and Interpretation, 4 credits, 4 hours (elective)
Prerequisite: IGB437
The course provides the students with practice and exercise in translating and interpreting spoken and written English texts: dialogues of formal, informal, colloquial, and standards forms, various written texts, debates, lecturer, and other materials of up intermediate level of difficulty. It also provides the students with practice and exercise in oral and written translation from English into Indonesian and from Indonesia into English: dynamic translation, different types of meanings, compound categories, blending, clipping, acronyms, figures of speech, idioms, and texts of various types o discourse.
IGB462 Fieldwork in Translation, 2 credits, 2 hours (elective)
Prerequisite: IGB437
The course provides the students with practice and training in advanced translating and interpreting in real situations, current news, and other sources of up-to-date information from printed and electronic media.
Discussion
Brushing up the curriculum on Translation Courses at the Study Program of Arabic Education and the Study Program of English Language and Literature at State University of Malang, the author suggests that:
- Each courses lacks focusing on certain objective for the whole courses. Therefore, a general objective of Elective Translation Courses should be drawn up.
- Both of required and elective Translation courses which consists of four courses are spread out into four semesters at the Study Program of English Language and Literature. While they are spread out into three semesters at the Study Program of Arabic, one course in the 5th semester, four courses are in the 6th semester and another one is in the 7th. Spreading courses in more semesters should be done to give more chance for the students to do exercise in translation.
- Fieldwork in Translation should be conducted dealing with real situations, current news, and other sources of up-to-date information from printed and electronic media.
Bibliography
Fakultas Sastra UM. 2010. Katalog Jurusan Sastra Arab Fakultas Sastra Universitas Negeri Malang.
Fakultas Sastra UM. 2010. Katalog Jurusan Sastra Inggris Fakultas Sastra Universitas Negeri Malang.
The Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE). 2002. Development for Undergraduate Education (EDU)-like. Malang: State University of Malang.
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 2010. Common European Framework of Reference for Language, accessed 12th August 2010.
Short Academic Biography
Nurul Murtadho is a senior lecturer of Arabic at State University of Malang who is now serving academic affairs as Vice Dean at Faculty of Letters. He has completed his PhD degree in Linguistics, University of Indonesia. He has served several programs of اتحاد المدرسين للغة العربية Indonesian Teachers of Arabic (ITA) for training and community services, research development and the editorial board of some academic journals: Al-Hadharah, ITA’s journal and two others that belong to State University of Malang, Al-Araby belongs to the Study Program of Arabic Education and Bahasa dan Seni an accredited journal of Faculty of Letters. Some researches have been conducted and granted by the Directorate General of Higher Education among these is Lexical Based Teaching of Arabic for Islamic Elementary Schools. Joining The Program for Academic Recharging (PAR) B Designed and Conducted from October 2009 to January 2010 by the School of Teaching and Learning The Ohio State University he wrote “Arabic by Newspaper: Congratulations, Condolences and Advertisements”.
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