The possible contributions of foreign language teaching approaches to the development of written language competence in academic translation education: The example of Istanbul University, Department of German Translation and Interpreting

It is known that the translation studies go back a long way, however, the transition to academic translation studies occurred when translation studies are accepted as a discipline in 1970s. In these years, institutions giving translation studies were opened and became prevalent. In the meantime, topics such as the principles and goals of translation studies, the structure of translation studies, the curriculum of translation studies and the translation competence became more prevalent and started to become the subject of academic debates. In sources, it is stated that one of the most basic tools of translation studies is to improve translation competences including all sub-competences of students such as the language, culture, text, specialty, research, and technology. However, it is possible to say that the most important component of translation competence and the prerequisite of sub-competences is no doubt "linguistic competence". In programs giving academic translation studies, courses regarding language competence including the competence of applying the language in oral and written form. In our study, "Written Language Competence" course covering the written form, is focused on. Interdisciplinary study is applied to make Written Language Competence course more effective. In this context, the approach, solutions, and techniques in foreign language teaching are analysed, and how to reflect these to Written Language Competence course within academic translation studies. In this study where the eclecticism was adopted, the approaches, methods and technics are chosen in accordance with the context and goals of Written Language Competence course while considering the language levels and deficiencies of the students. To detect the deficiencies of the students, a foreign language exam was given to first grade students at Istanbul University Department of German Translation and Interpretation. From the results, a course plan including three courses perceived for students to improve their written language competences, and the possible contributions of foreign language teaching to Written Language Competence course. At the end of the study, it is concluded that the translation studies can benefit from foreign language teaching and the interdisciplinary studies between these domains are important and should increase. Key Words: academic translation studies, foreign language teaching, Written Language Competence, interdisciplinarity, Istanbul University, Department of German Translation and Interpretation, foreign language test