Languages & Translation FAQs
General Questions
- What class size may I expect in your in-class courses?
- Would I have the same instructor throughout the program?
- What language is used to teach the language I’m learning?
- What teaching methods are used in your in-class programs?
- Are the in-class language courses once a week or more than once a week?
- How often are your language course “starts” during the year?
- What is the marking scheme for the in-class courses?
- Is it all right if I miss a class meeting or two? May I come back and be able to continue the course?
- Is there homework?
- What do I receive at the end of an in-class course?
- What does the in-class course fee include?
- May I register for 1-on-1 private instruction or home study anytime and start?
Levels of Proficiency Questions
- What does each course do as I move up through the proficiency levels in the program?
- If I enroll in a language course and find the level is too high/low, can I move to another level if you’re offering it that term?
- May I be a beginner and still study to obtain a certificate in the language of my choice?
- How do I know which level to take?
- How do I determine my proficiency level placement and the course that is the best match for me?
Certificates Questions
- Which courses are required for a translation certification?
- What are my options for earning a translation certification?
- How long do I have to complete my coursework for certification?
Distance Learning Questions
- How long is the distance learning language course?
- Are all distance learning language and translation course assignments mandatory?
- How do I submit my assignments?
- Is there a final exam in each distance education language course?
- What do I receive at the end of the distance learning course?
- What is the marking scheme?
- How many hours a week do students spend on a distance learning course doing the actual studying and work on the assignments?
- What do I need in addition to the course materials in order to complete a distance learning course?
- What are the technical requirements for your distance learning translation certificate?
Answers for General Questions
- What class size may I expect in your in-class courses?
Our in-class course size is limited to 20 students per course. Early registration is therefore strongly recommended. - Would I have the same instructor throughout the program?
Our friendly and approachable educators have experience teaching adult learners and all have qualifications to teach the target language as a second language. You will have more than one instructor during your certificate program. - What language is used to teach the language I’m learning?
All language courses are taught chiefly in the language being learned. At all levels, grammar explanations may be given in English and repeated in the target language. - What teaching methods are used in your in-class programs?
We use communicative language teaching and content-based learning methodologies. You may ask your instructor for help appropriate to your level of language proficiency or with respect to communications you need to carry out in your area of professional expertise. - Are the in-class language courses once a week or more than once a week?
Most courses meet once a week. In the summer intensives in French, courses meet twice a week. - How often are your language course “starts” during the year?
In-class language courses are offered in the Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer sessions. You may also take our courses 365 days a year through the ongoing enrolment option in the private 1-on-1 instruction format. - What is the marking scheme for the in-class courses?
Pass/Fail. - Is it all right if I miss a class meeting or two? May I come back and be able to continue the course?
Each class meeting covers new acts of communication and reinforces grammar structures, expressions of politeness, idioms, and vocabulary. Participants are not singled out, put on the spot, and quizzed on content from previous classes. Instead, you complete assigned homework activities which are reviewed by your instructor and returned to you with feedback and evaluation commentary.If you let the instructor know in advance that you’ll miss a class, class handouts and discussion about what was covered in the missed class will be provided to you by your instructor.We strongly recommend that you miss no more than two class meetings (and preferably none) in any one course to ensure maximum progress in learning to express original thought. Seventy-five percent of classes in each level must be attended for a certificate to be awarded.
- Is there homework?
Yes. Homework activities supplement your in-class learning, help you retain your learning in long-term memory, and enable you to progress more quickly. This homework is returned to you with personalized feedback. Supplementary assigned homework activities in the form of short spoken or written tasks enable you to assimilate the communication acts, grammar, idioms, vocabulary and material covered in class in order to progress more quickly. The assigned homework, both doable and practical will be given by the instructor, corrected and returned to you. - What do I receive at the end of an in-class course?
Upon successful completion of all the course requirements, the in-class Final Project and with 75% attendance in the course, you will receive an Achievement Report with a Pass/Fail marking scheme. - What does the in-class course fee include?
Course fees include course counselling over the phone prior to course selection, diagnostic level placement at the first class meeting, course handouts, customization to the extent possible of the course to suit your needs and personalized feedback on your homework activities. - May I register for 1-on-1 private instruction anytime and start?
You may register 365 days a year to start a course with us. Your term begins when you register. On-going enrolment allows you to register at your convenience, anytime throughout the year, not just for the start of a Fall, Winter or Summer semester.
Answers for Levels of Proficiency Questions
- What does each course accomplish as I move up through the proficiency levels in the program?
Each course at each proficiency level draws on a set of communications to best prepare you for the next level up; they chiefly include:Level I – II(among other communications): requesting and giving information, relating events (present, past, future), giving directions, making plans, expressing preferences and dislikes, offering opinions, giving advice.
Level III – V (among other communications): suggesting, persuading, hypothesizing, justifying or challenging an hypothesis, discussion and planning of events, leading or reporting on a conversation, negotiating.
Level VI (among other communications): ability to use the language to express complex, original thought with a sophisticated command of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Ability to engage with nuanced, subtle expression in both work-related and personal communications.
At all levels grammar, expressions of politeness, idioms, and vocabulary necessary for day-to-day communications (i.e., giving your opinion or suggesting) are taught. You build your mastery of the language on this foundation which allows you to engage at your level in everyday, straight forward transactions in any situation.
- If I enroll in a language course and find the level is too high or low, can I move to another level if you’re offering it that term?
Yes. Speak to your instructor or call the Languages Department at 416/978-2412 to arrange to move to another level when it is offered. - May I be a beginner and still study to obtain a certificate in the language of my choice?
Yes. You do not require previous background in the language of choice to begin your certificate language program. - How do I know which level to take?
We provide a guide called the Levels of Language Proficiency to help you assess your own level of proficiency. Don’t worry that you may have misjudged your skill level at registration; you will also be assessed at your first class meeting by your instructor, so you can be assured that you will be placed appropriately. - How do I determine my proficiency level placement and the course that is the best match for me?
For personalized course counselling and spoken proficiency level placement, call and talk to friendly, counsellors at 416/978-2412. You may also fill out the online questionnaire with a legend at the end that indicates what level course you should take based on your score.
Answers for Certificates Questions
- Which courses are required for the translation certification?
Students are required to complete four translation courses in the language of their choice:- Introduction: Applied Translation Theory
- Translation – Level I
- Translation – Level II
- Translation – Level III
- What are my options for earning the translation certification?
French, Chinese-Cantonese, Chinese-Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish are offered through distance learning. - How long do I have to complete my coursework for certification?
Successful completion of the required number of courses needs to take place within 18 months.
Distance Learning Questions
- How long is the distance learning language course?
You have 18 months to complete a distance learning course if you so desire. You go at your own pace and submit your assignments for feedback and evaluation commentary. - Are all distance learning translation course assignments mandatory?
Yes. All assignments must be completed when the course is over. You will receive personalized feedback on all your assignments. - How do I submit my assignments?
All assignments are submitted by e-mail to your instructor. - Is there a final exam in each distance education language course?
Yes. An invigilated exam is required at the end of each course. - What do I receive at the end of the distance learning course?
Upon successful completion of the required course assignments and the exam, you receive an academic Achievement Report with a final mark as a percentage. - What is the marking scheme?
Marks are given in percentage. - How many hours a week do students spend on a distance learning course doing the actual studying and work on the assignments?
Most students tell us that they do intensive, concentrated studying 5 hours at one time, usually on Sundays, once a week. - What do I need in addition to the course materials in order to complete a distance learning course?
You need to have all your language resources available at all times when studying:- an up-to-date dictionary in the target language, preferably published after 2001.
- verb book in the target language.
- a grammar resource book that has an excellent index which may refer you to a concise explanation of the grammar you have a question about, and provide you with examples.
- What are the technical requirements for your distance learning translation certificate?
For the final examination in translation, only published dictionaries can be used. No electronic devices are permitted.
