A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Simulated Translation Bureaus
Authors: Konttinen, Kalle; Salmi, Leena
Editors: Walker, Callum; Lambert, Joseph
Publisher: Routledge
Publication year: 2025
Book title : The Routledge Handbook of the Translation Industry
Series title: Routledge Handbooks in Translation and Interpreting Studies
First page : 511
Last page: 525
ISBN: 978-1-032-44679-0
eISBN: 978-1-003-38130-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003381303-37
Web address : https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003381303-37
Simulated translation bureaus (STBs) are a pedagogical approach designed to provide translation students with practical experience in a simulated business environment. This chapter explores best practices for implementing STBs, tracing their origins and theoretical foundations. STBs aim to enhance students’ employability by bridging the gap between academic programmes and the language industry. The approach emphasises self-directed learning and combines lectures, collaborative work, and reflection. While the primary focus is on developing students’ skills in translation, translation-related tasks, and project management, some STBs also address entrepreneurship and business operations. Debates surrounding STBs include balancing academic and vocational content, choosing the right mix of transmissionist and transformationist pedagogies, ensuring authenticity while avoiding excessive risk, finding suitable assessment methods, and addressing emotions. As employability becomes increasingly crucial in translator education, STBs will likely gain prominence.