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Translate German English: Courses in Canada

Canadian universities offering undergraduate and graduate qualifications in German and translation

This section of the German to English Translation Online Directory lists universities in Canada where you can learn German and to translate German English.

In Canada, the majority of university language and translation courses appear to focus on the English<=>French combination, almost to the exclusion of all other languages.

This is particularly the case for universities in Quebec, and reflects Canada’s bilingual status. Not great if you plan to translate German English!

But don't worry, there are options, and I've done my research for you......

Search universities by province: Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

Canada's German heritage

Although we tend to associate Canada with English and French, according to Canada’s 2016 census, Canadians of German descent account for almost 10% of the population.

Many arrived from Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, from the 18th century onwards.

The Mennonites, fleeing religious persecution in Tsarist Russia, are perhaps the most visible group. Surnames (e.g. Justin Bieber), and place names (e.g. Hoffnungsau, Waldheim, Stettin) are the most tangible evidence of their arrival.

Learn to translate German English in Canada

CATS – the Canadian Association for Translation Studies (also known as ACET – Association Canadienne des Écoles de Traduction) is an association which aims to bring together researchers, teachers and practitioners who are interested in the study or teaching of translation and related disciplines.

It officially recognises translation courses offered by Canadian universities.

Universities in Canada who are CATS members and run German programmes are:

• University of Manitoba
• University of Regina

Calling all translators!

Have you studied German translation at one of these institutions?

Tell us what you thought of the course! And if you're now a working as a translator, I'll reward you with a link to your website!

An alternative route to becoming qualified to translate German English in Canada is by becoming a Certified Translator.

The Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council - CTTIC - maintains and promotes professional standards in translation, interpretation and terminology to ensure high-quality communication across linguistic and cultural communities in Canada through a national standardized examination.

Search universities by province: Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

ALBERTA

University of Alberta

www.mlcs.ualberta.ca
Faculty of Arts
Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies
200 Arts Building
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E6

• German – minor, major
• German – BA Hons
• Translation – certificate *
• Germanic Languages, Literatures and Linguistics – MA, PhD
• Translation Studies – MA, PhD

*The certificate in translation is taken whilst studying for a major in German, but is not a professional qualification. It is intended as the basis for further training in the profession.

"The Department of Modern Languages & Cultural Studies plays an integral role in promoting multilingual proficiency and intercultural understanding to prepare students for life and work as professionals in a global environment and as citizens in a multicultural society."

MLCS website

University of Calgary

http://gsea.ucalcary.ca
Department of Germanic, Slavic and East Asian Studies
Faculty of Arts
2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4

• German classes
• Minor in German
• BA and BA Hons. in Germanic Studies
• MA in Germanic Studies

"The programs in German....aim to provide students with the tools that will permit them to pursue with success that life-long challenge of learning a language and culture in this broad sense."

GSEA website

I’m afraid you can’t learn to translate German English at Calgary.

The University of Calgary adheres to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – developed by the Council of Europe to provide a framework outlining stages of language skills. It has 6 levels - A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. The CEFR has been adopted throughout Europe and worldwide.

Search universities by province: Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

MANITOBA

University of Manitoba

http://umanitoba.ca
Faculty of Arts
Department of German and Slavic Studies
328 Fletcher Argue Bldg.
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2

• German – minor
• German – major (BA)
• German – BA Hons
• German – MA, PreMA

"The program offers undergraduate and graduate classes at all levels of the German language and in German literature and culture between 1750 and today. The department’s specialty is German literature between 1933 and today, but the periods Enlightenment and Romanticism are also well represented."

University of Manitoba website

Again, Manitoba is a university listed by CATS as offering translation courses, but I only found these mentioned at the Faculty of Arts French Department, and none for anyone wanting to translate German English.

The Department of German and Slavic Studies also enables students to spend one or two semesters on student exchanges with The University of Greifswald and Trier University in Germany, plus a range of summer work programs and school programs.

The German Academic Exchange Service DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) helps with scholarships for student exchanges – see daad.org.

Search universities by province: Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

ONTARIO

University of Toronto

http://german.utoronto.ca
Faculty of Arts & Science
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
3rd Floor, 50 St. Joseph Street
Toronto M5S 1J4

The department of German at utoronto offers:
• German – minor
• German studies in English - minor
• German Studies – BA Hons
• German Literature, Culture and Theory – MA, PhD

"A student who is seriously interested in philosophy, physics, psychology, political science -- indeed in music, art history, or almost any academic discipline -- must eventually face the fact that she or he ought to know German. German is the language of Goethe and Schiller, too, and of Brecht, Hesse, Mann, Kafka, Böll, and Grass, writers who have helped shape the way we see our world. German literature in itself is reason enough to study the language."

University of Toronto

The University Of Toronto School Of Continuing Studies offers basic German classes, but unfortunately the translation certificate they offer is not available for German.

Search universities by province: Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

SASKATCHEWAN

University of Regina

www.arts.uregina.ca
Faculty of Arts
3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, S4S 0A2.

• German - certificate
• German – minor and major
• German - BA

Although the University of Regina is listed as one of the CAST recognised translation schools, I can find no translation courses at Regina at all (if you can, please let me know!) However, they do encourage students wanting to study or work in Germany, through organisations such as:

• CSSG – Canadian summer school in Germany
• Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (Fremdsprachenassistentenprogramm) run by the EU
• Exchanges with the University of Applied Science in Bielefeld, Germany