Progression of Difficulty in Undergraduate Interpretation & Translation Courses - A Survey of Perception among Educators and Students

This study investigates the perception among instructors and students regarding progression of difficulty in T&I programs. According to the survey conducted, it was found that the two groups strongly shared the view that the difficulty in T&I courses as well as text difficulty should increase with the progression of the programs. However, the two groups showed difference on a number of aspects, in particular, how they evaluate the current management of difficulties in programs and possible factors that give rise to such differences. Instructors cited the lack of objective criteria for measuring difficulty as the most urgent problem that warrants attention. Student Group were, in general, not as sensitive about progression of difficulty as their counterpart. In addition, there seems to be clear difference in expectations for graduate vs. undergraduate level students both during the progression of the programs as well as after graduation, which appeared to have implications on the management of difficulties.