TCLoc Master’s Degree Curriculum

Introduction

History and evolution of the Web and web-based technologies

Markup Languages

• Designing, creating, and editing files in HTML, XML, and XHTML
• Examining the role of XML in localization

Style Sheet Languages

• Using CSS and XSL in conjunction with HTML and XML
• Manipulating XML files using XPATH
• Transforming XML files using XSLT

Programming Languages

• Using JavaScript and PHP programming languages
• Basics of server-side scripting and dynamic web page creation
  Databases
• Basics of Web/database integration and database design using MySQL

Development Tools

• Using development tools such as Oxygen XML Editor and Eclipse

Analyzing, Conceptualizing, and Editing Technical Content

• Legal requirements and international standards for technical documentation
• Principles and concepts of online documentation and terminology

Information Development, Organization, Standardization, and Publishing

• Information development and design
• Project management
• Media publishing methods
• Structured authoring and layout programs

The teaching unit is divided into three topics, the first of which students can choose between two options.

Topic 1 – Option 1: Mastering IT Product Localization

This course helps gain a broader view of the translation industry, adopting a process-oriented point of view and a client/provider perspective, focusing on:

• Preparing terminology, methodological elements; localization projects
• Quality control methods
• Dealing with the main challenges when managing multilingual translation projects

Topic 1 – Option 2: Advanced Configurations

During this course, students will be performing a hands-on, deep dive into the world of advanced configurations for localization, focusing on:

• Regular Expressions
• XML, SRX, ITS
• Filetype Parser Configurations

Topic 2: Introduction to CAT Tools

This unit helps to have a basic understanding of any CAT tool and to be able to fully utilize core features. XTM, MemoQ, and SDL Trados Studio licenses are provided for the duration of this course.

Topic 3: Machine Translation

This course focuses on the uses of machine translation, notably in CAT tools.

• Integrating machine translation suggestions into CAT tools
• Differences between translation memory matches and machine translated segments in CAT tools
• Differences between light and full post-editing
• TAUS Post-Editing course and SDL Post-Editing certification
• Charging for machine translation as a language service provider
• Using MT analysis logs

Introduction to Usability and UX Design

• Theories and models that examine how humans perceive and use materials
• Approaches to testing the usability of different kinds of products with various audiences
• Methods for assessing the efficacy of product design and engaging in re-design practices based on data from audiences
• Researching audience/user expectations to guide effective product design and development practices

Option 1: Content Strategy

This course provides an overview of content strategy: the process, tasks, and skills needed to do content strategy work. Content strategy is a valuable companion to and underpinning for technical writing. Getting buy-in for content strategy among business, technology, and digital executives can also help technical
communications get more internal buy-in.

• Understand the basic concepts of content strategy
• Understand how content strategy is distinct from content marketing, information architecture, and content development
• Learn the skills of content strategy in order to champion the need for content strategy, work with a content strategist, or perform some aspects of content strategy work
• Create content that works in a digital environment, addresses a user need, and helps the organization accomplish its goals

Option 2: Image Processing and Communication

• Basics of digital images
• Practical work using either Adobe or Affinity (student’s choice):
• Affinity (Photo and Designer)
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

For the duration of the program, Affinity licenses are provided. No license is
provided for Adobe Creative Cloud, but special rates are available for students.

This teaching unit consists of two topics — one is mandatory and the second one is chosen by the student from two options.

Topic 1: SEO and Content Marketing

• Search engine optimization (SEO) for websites and digital marketing
• International SEO

Topic 2 – Option 1: Simplified Technical English (STE)

Fundamentals of controlled language use in technical documentation in accordance with ASD-STE100 specifications.

Topic 2 – Option 2: Plain Language

This topic will teach students a process and a set of techniques for producing plain language. These are:

• Planning clear communication
• Structuring a document clearly
• Writing using plain language techniques
• Designing content so that it is easy to read
• Using an appropriate tone of voice

Project Management

• Project Management
• Project management methodology
• Project management tools
• Leadership strategies
• International project management
• Project evaluation and project transfer

Option 1: Software and API Documentation

In this course, students will learn and practise how to approach the development of software documentation. They will practise and at the same time develop their professional writing portfolio which can be used to successfully apply for a software documentation or API technical writing positions on the job market.

Option 2: Mobile App Localization

In this course, students will have gained an overall understanding of what mobile apps are, how they are developed and maintained, and primarily how to setup their globalization strategy, internationalization testing and localization workflows for success.

Option 1: Information for Industry 4.0

In this course, students will get to grips with the principle of Information as a component within Industry 4.0, which includes the Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and Cloud Manufacturing (CM). They will also learn how to integrate Information 4.0 in order to fulfill the needs of each component, by:

• Understanding the role of content strategy in Information 4.0.
• Learning about writing for robots
• Examining the tools at our disposal to manage Information 4.0

Option 2: Software Localization

In this course, participants will gain an understanding of localisation tools and their range of features. They will become familiar with principles of internationalisation and localisation. Participants will be able to configure localisation tools to prepare localisation data and to manage and automate localisation projects.

Option 3: NLP and Language Resource Management

In this course, students will start by exploring the history of NLP, the constituent parts of an NLP pipeline and most importantly, practical applications of NLP pipeline in use cases such as machine translation, chatbots, virtual assistants, sentiment analysis, and text summarization. The course will also discuss some common machine learning algorithms that make use of NLP tools and techniques to build models for prediction.

Research Method and Academic Writing

• Choosing a research topic, developing a research problem, and writing a research proposal
• Establishing a clear research methodology
• Setting a definite research schedule
• Selecting relevant sources
• Collecting and analyzing data and writing a thesis

The TCLoc master’s degree curriculum is available in 4 different study options. To find the right one for you, take a look at our program format.