Job Needs and Task Analysis of Japanese-Speaking Thai Translators and Interpreters: Implications for Japanese Language Education
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
In order to provide a foundation for discussion on translation and interpreting (TI) education, this article aims to introduce useful data to identify the Thai job market’s needs of Japanese-speaking Thai Translators and Interpreters (JTTIs) and distinguish the relevant competencies of JTTIs, including knowledge, skills, and attributes (KSAs). An online-based needs survey of JTTIs in the Thai marketplace was carried out and the expected KSAs of JTTIs were identified through a job task analysis. There were 395 data samples selected for inclusion in the database analysis. The study reveals that JTTIs are in highest demand in the Thai market. As for KSAs, Japanese language skills were emphasized over other specialized competencies for TI. The Japanese proficiency level required was upper intermediate or N2-level based on Japanese language proficiency test. The overall findings have practical implications for TI course design such as the issues of setting learning outcomes, teaching approaches, and the language proficiency level of students enrolled in those courses. Furthermore, to respond to the Thai market’s needs, it is important to not only focus on development of Japanese language proficiency but to also cultivate students’ TI literacy in order to ensure professional-level TI services.
Downloads
Article Details
All rights reserved. Apart from citations for the purposes of research, private study, or criticism and review,no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any other form without prior written permission by the publisher.
References
Akagi, E. (2016) A Method of Grading Learning Contents for JOP: Examples of Cabin Crew and Hotel Staff]. Journal of Japanese Language Education Methods 22(3): 4-5.
Albir, A. H. (2007) Competence-Based Curriculum Design for Training Translators. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 1(2): 163-195.
ASEAN University Network (AUN). (2015) Guide to AUN-QA Assessment at Programme Level Version.3.0. [Online URL: https://www.aun-qa.org/publications] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Board of Investment of Thailand. (2018) Thailand and Japan Strengthen Investment Ties at Recent Investment Roadshow in Fukuoka. [Online URL: https://www.boi.go.th/upload/content/Thailand_Japan_strengthen_
investment_tie_5a8fcf4bcc58f.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Boonserm, S. (2016) Kootookyooiku bijinesu nihongo senkoo curriculum kaizen no ichi koo satsu: Tai shiritsu daigaku Dhurakij Pundit University no jiirei. [Discussion on Reforming Curricula for Business Japanese Major at Higher Education Level: A Case of Dhurakij Pundit University, a Private University in Thailand]. Conference proceedings, The 2016 International Conference on Japanese Language Education, September 10, 2016, Bali, Indonesia.
Bowker, L. (2004) What Does It Take to Work in the Translation Profession in Canada in the 21st Century?: Exploring a Database of Job Advertisements. Meta 49(4): 960-972.
Chan, A. and Liu, C. (2013) The Translator status, the Translation Market and Developing Economies: A Preliminary Study of ASEAN Countries. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 31(4): 435-450.
Chodkiewicz, M. (2012) The EMT Framework of Reference for Competences Applied to Translation: Perceptions by Professional and Student Translators. Journal of Specialised Translation 17: 37-54.
Choi, J. and Lim, H. (2000) An Overview of the Korean Translation Market. Meta 45(2): 383-392.
Ek-Ariyasiri, E. (2008) Tai kootookyooiku kikan no nihongo senkoo curriculum kaihatsu ni kansuru kenkyuu: Prince of Songkla University o rei ni. [A Study on Developing Japanese Major Curriculum in the Thai Higher Education Institutions: A Case of Prince of Songkla University]. Journal of Japanese Language and Culture 4: 117-144.
European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation. (2018) 2018 Language Industry Survey: Expectations and Concerns of the European Language Industry. [Online URL: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/
info/files/2017_language_industry_survey_report_en.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
European Master's in Translation (EMT). (2017) European Master's in Translation: EMT Competence Framework. [Online URL: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/emt_competence_fwk_2017_en_web.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
González, D. M. and Enríquez, R. V. (2016) Situated Learning in Translator and Interpreter Training: Bridging Research and Good Practice. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 10(1): 1-11.
Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau. (2012) Translation Bureau Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis. [Online URL: https://ailia.ca/dl359] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Hagiwara, M., Kume, K. and Nagase, H. (2014) Works Report 2014: Asean 4 kakoku no syokuba jittai ni kansuru tyoosa. [Survey on Current Workplace Conditions in ASEAN 4 Countries]. Recruit Works Institute. [Online URL: https://www.works–i.com/surveys/asean.html] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Harada, A. (2004) An Analysis of JSP for Japanese Owned Business in Bangkok: In Comparison of Local Workers' Motivation in Learning Japanese. Waseda Journal of Japanese Applied Linguistics 5: 169-181.
Japan Foundation. (2015) Nihongo kyooiku koku and chiikibetsu jyohoo. [Information on Provided Japanese Education Countries and Areas] (Fiscal Year 2014). [Online URL: https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/project/japanese/survey/area/country/2014/thailand.html] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Japan Foundation. (2017) Survey Report on Japanese-Language Education Abroad 2015. [Online URL: https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/project/japanese/survey/result/dl/survey_2015/Report_all_e.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Japan Foundation. (2018) Nihongo kyooiku koku and chiikibetsu jyohoo. [Information on Japanese Education Provided Countries and Areas]. (Fiscal Year 2017). [Online URL: https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/project/japanese/
survey/area/country/2014/thailand.html] accessed on August 1, 2018. (in Japanese).
Japanese Chamber of Commerce JCC, Bangkok. (2018) History of JCC. [Online URL: https://www.jcc.or.th/en/about/index3] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Jeong, C. (2005) Learner Needs Analysis for T and I Program Reform. Meta 50(4).
Katagiri, L. K. (2016) Tai ni okeru nihongo kyooiku no shintenkai.[New Paradigm of Japanese Education in Thailand]. Studies of Japanese-Thai Languages and Cultures, Special Issue, 315-328.
Kongjit, S. (2013) Chenmai daigaku ni okeru nihongo kyooiku no genjoo. [Current Situations of Japanese Education in Chiang Mai University] Journal of Center for Education and Research, Gunma University 12: 23-34.
Li, D. (2005) Teaching of Specialized Translation Courses in Hong Kong: A Curricular Analysis. Babel 51(1): 62-77.
Li, D., Zhang, C. and He, Y. (2015) Project–Based Learning in Teaching Translation: Students’ Perceptions. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 9(1): 1-19.
Liao, W. (2016) An Approach to Cultivating the Skills of Japanese Tour Guide: Students' Course Evaluation from a Course Focused on Workplace Experience. Journal of Technical Japanese Education 18: 49-54.
Maeno, H., Katsuda, C. and Larpsrisawad, D. (2013) Zai tai Nikkei kigyoo ga motomeru nihongo jinzai: Ankeeto tyoosa yori. Japanese Language Education Bulletion: The Japan Foundation, Bangkok 10: 67-76. (in Japanese).
Maeno, H., Katsuda, C. and Larpsrisawad, D. (2015) Zai tai Nikkei kigyoo ga motomeru nihongo jinzai: intabyuu tyoosa yori. Japanese Language Education Bulletion: The Japan Foundation, Bangkok 12: 47-56. (in Japanese).
Munday, J. (2008) Introducing Translation studies: Theories and Applications (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). (2015) NAATI Translator Certification: Knowledge, Skills and Attributes. [Online URL: https://www.naati.com.au/media/1059/translator_ksa_paper.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). (2016) NAATI Interpreter Certification: Knowledge, Skills and Attributes. [Online URL: https://www.naati.com.au/media/1262/interpreter-ksa-paper-final_290216_2.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Nimdzi. (2018) Nimdzi 100: The Size and State of the Language Services Industry, Including Ranking of Top 100 LSPs by Revenue. [Online URL: https://nimdzi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Nimdzi-100-First-Edition.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Nunoo, K. (2013) Kangoshi/kaigohukushishi koohosya ni taisuru senmon nihongo kyooiku: Shyokyuu kara no torikumi. [Japanese Education for Specific Purposes for Candidate Nurses and Care Givers: Exploring from a basic level]. Journal of Technical Japanese Education 15: 23-26
Poonlarp, T. and Leenakitti, N. (2016) What Do You Employers Want? A Study of Online Job Advertisements for Translators in Thailand. Journal of Language and Culture 35(2): 7-33.
Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC). (2009) Notice of Office of the Higher Education Commission on Code of Practice on Handling Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education 2009.” [Online URL: https://www.mua.go.th/users/tqf-hed/news/FilesNews/FilesNews3/News328072552.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC). (2015) Notice of Office of the Higher Education Commission on Cof practice on Handling Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (3rd ed.) 2015. [Online URL: https://www.mua.go.th/users/tqf-hed/research/3_2558.PDF] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Sano, H. (2009) Mokuteki betsu nihongo kyooiku saikoo. [Japanese Language Education based on Purposed Revised]. Journal of technical Japanese education 11: 9-14.
Sakurai, K. and Okubo, Y. (2017) Job Seeker Trends 2016: Increasing Global Mobility. Boston Consulting Group and Recruit Works Institute. [Online URL: https://www.works-i.com/pdf/170202_jst2016_eng.pdf] accessed on August 1, 2018.
Takeda, K. (2017) 2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report: A Study on the Contents and Delivery Methods of "Translation and Interpreting Literacy" Education at Universities, project number 26370712. [Online URL: https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/ja/report/KAKENHI-PROJECT-26370712/26370712seika/] accessed on August 1, 2018. (in Japanese).
Takeda, K., Yamada, M. and Karashima, D. (2014) Introducing TI Literacy Education. Journal of the Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies 14: 1-14.
Talaván, N. and Rodríguez, A. P. (2014) The Use of Reverse Subtitling as an Online Collaborative Language Learning Tool. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 8(1): 84-101.
Tanasarnsanee, M., Takasaka, T., Tomiyama, J., Nakai, M. and Hukazawa, N. (2005) Bijinesu de tsukau Nihongo o kangaeru: Kigyoo to kyooikugenba no shitenkara. Japanese Language Education Bulletion; The Japan Foundation, Bangkok 2: 207-222. (in Japanese).
Tsubosaka, K. (2012) Tai no daigaku ni okeru nihongo kyoiku: Gakusyuusya no gakusyuu ishiki to Nikkei kigyoo no jittai to gyappu. Working Papers in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language 21: 34-42. (in Japanese).
Uehara, M. (2008) Interpreting and Translation Education of the Graduate Schools in Thailand. Journal of the Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies 8: 337-354.
Wada, E. (2006) Iryoo genba de motomerareru communication skill: Yakuzaishi ni yoru kookatekina fukuyaku shidoohoo nit suite. Journal of Technical Japanese Education 8: 9-12. (in Japanese).
Yamamoto, K. (2018a) A Bibliometoric Analysis of Master's Theses Related to Translation Studies in Thailand. International Journal of East Asian Studies 21(2): 89-105.
Yamamoto, K. (2018b) Publication Trends and Profiles of Thai Scholarly Articles in Translation Studies: A Bibliometric Approach. Catalyst 18: 7-17.