New Irish Language MA in Conference Interpreting at NUI Galway

Feb 22 2008 Posted: 00:00 GMT
NUI Galway is offering a new Masters Degree through Irish in Conference Interpreting (MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála), the first of its kind in Ireland. The course has been designed in direct response to Irish becoming an official language of the European Union and the resulting demand for professionals with recognised qualifications in Irish language interpreting and translation.

The M.A. programme will be taught through Irish and, in addition to Irish and English, students with a high level of French and Irish will have the opportunity to use French while studying this M.A. The course is based on the European Masters in Conference Interpreting, a programme developed in conjunction with institutions of the European Union and offered in 18 universities across Europe. Devised by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's dedicated structure for the provision of third level courses through Irish, the M.A. will be delivered in An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht.

Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Programme Director, believes the career prospects for graduates will be very good, "The European Union urgently needs to recruit highly trained and qualified Irish language interpreters. The MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála is designed to educate and prepare students for a career as a professional conference interpreter. Students will also be trained in the specialised skills of interpreting, leaving them in a strong position to secure prestigious employment on completing the course".

The subjects covered in the MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála will include Conference Interpreting, simultaneous and consecutive Interpreting, the European Union and International Organisations, as well as the Theory and Practice of Interpreting. The programme will also cover memory exercises, sight translation, note-taking skills, mock conferences, glossaries for technical meetings, voice coaching, and booth etiquette. Students will have the opportunity to visit EU institutions to see at first hand the work of international interpreters.

Applications are now being accepted for this full-time one-year course which will begin in September 2008 with a maximum intake of 12 students. Other postgraduate courses in Irish on offer at NUI Galway, include the: M.A. in Language Planning; M.A. in Teaching Methodology (An Ghaeilge); Higher Diploma in Drama; and the Higher Diploma in Applied Communications. In addition to the taught programmes, the NUI Galway's Acadamh offers a research scholarship programme in Information Technology.

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