Project PROTECT

development of technological and professional competences in the translation class

Abstract

This paper aims to introduce the project PROTECT (PROfessional and TEchnology Competences in Translation). In order to approach the project PROTECT, a questionnaire on the perception of technological and professional needs has been used, with a sample made up of 85 undergraduate students of Translation and Interpreting. This project is intended to promote the acquisition of the instrumental-professional subcompetence by undergraduate students, one of the most important competences to face the new technological-based working environment to achieve a better and smoother transition into the labor market. To boost this subcompetence, the project recreates professional jobs where students are encouraged to act like a professional translator and compete with their classmates to obtain the assignment, work with the proper computer-assisted translation tools, design and create quotes and invoices, and contact the client efficiently to ensure the success of the diverse tasks of different types of translation. Hence, this project will allow students to develop a greater mastery of specific translation technological tools, but also non-specific translation tools in order to obtain and perform successfully real assignments. Subsequently, students get a better preparation to face different specialized courses and show less uncertainty about their working future.