Professional translation placements in Chilean universities: description and analysis

Abstract

The present document sets out the results of a descriptive work on the process of the professional translation placements in undergraduate translation programs in Chilean universities with the first aim of knowing how the practicum is carried out during this formative stage and its characteristics. The second objective aims at analysing three elements that take part of this training stage: evaluation, supervision, and feedback, as the key pillars of the practicum. The information is based on data collected from an interview and a survey to the academic directors or professional placement coordinators at 12 universities offering an undergraduate degree in translation in Chile. The article also describes, as an example, the practicum modus operandi at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, as a reference regarding the data collected in other universities through the survey. The results show wide and noticeable differences and similarities in the way the practicum is developed and carried out in the universities, as well as the extent to which the three pillars intervene and their significance in the practicum.