The English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, University of Jember is aware of the challenge that language will always evolve in the midst of industrialisation and globalisation as well as competition for job opportunities today. The development of technology, which has begun to be followed by the development of the language industry, makes the work of a translator inseparable from all sectors, such as technology, journalistic mass media, law, medical, scientific journal management, film, and many more. Therefore, the English Literature Study Programme sees the need for strategic steps to adapt to this reality by preparing its students to face this challenge.
Located in Sultan Takdir Alisjahbana Hall, the English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, University of Jember prepared and equipped its students with skills in the field of translation offline on Saturday, 17 September 2022. The training and skill test for 100 students from 5th to 7th semester was conducted by inviting HPI professional in the field of translation, Anna Wiksmadhara. “The purpose of this training is to realise the Graduate Learning Outcomes (LLOs) of the Study Program charged with the Translation Course, namely to improve the quality of the Translation course and foster student interest in the field of translation, so that one of the profiles of Study Program graduates, namely graduates who become professional translators, is achieved.” Indah Wahyuningsih, S.S., M.A. as the Head of English Literature Study Programme explained. The debriefing on 17 September was followed by the implementation of the translation camp test for students by HPI on Sunday, 18 September 2022. This activity is funded by the government from the 2022 Merdeka Campus Competency Programme Grant (PKKM).
The guest speaker was Anna Wiksmadhara, a professional translator and secretary of the Indonesian Translators Association (HPI) with more than 23 years of language translation experience. Anna is also a specialist in translating the oil and gas sector. “We present her because of her reputation, competence and skills. Mrs Anna has the ability to translate medical, legal, financial and telecommunication texts. She is also a lecturer in translator courses at Politeknik Negeri Jakarta.” Continued the woman who graduated from Leeds University in the UK.
This activity received an overwhelming response from the students. “I hope to get more knowledge about translation in detail down to the small picture of the whole big picture,” said Firnanda Novalia Anisha, a student of English Literature Study programme, Faculty of Humanities, University of Jember who participated in the translator training and translation skill test enthusiastically, “Translating does not have to be literal, but it can also be contextual and semantic,” she further said.
Meanwhile, Laila Iftitah conveyed her hopes by participating in this training, “I hope for me to gain insight into translation. This training develops my insight. With this, I can measure how far I know about my ignorance about translation. This training is very helpful, especially since I am poor and destitute. It’s free and also includes certification, so I can put it on my CV to get a good job.”
The Department of English Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Jember, together with the Indonesian Translators Association, is very hopeful that from the translation training programme and the translator proficiency test that took place, at least more than 70% of the students who participated in this programme will get a certificate with good grades so that they can be used as capital to work in the translation industry and be recognised for their translation competence by the Indonesian Translators Association. A total of 100 participants took part in this programme. [BAK]