BABEL UNIVERSITY was founded by BABEL.Co.Ltd in 1974 as a Japanese education institution specializing in translation.

We BABEL Group started to offer an graduate course leading to the Master of Science in Translation (MST) at the “BABEL University Professional School of Translation” in 2000 in US.

The Science and Business of Translation

Chancellor
Miyoko Yuasa

Since its foundation in 1974, Babel has trained numerous professional translators. We have done so by implementing a unique learning strategy of:

1. Systematically incorporating internship programs
2. Offering workshops
3. Teaching Translation Grammar*

Babel began offering distance learning courses for educating translators in 1975. In 1984, Babel International (currently Babel Trans-Media Center) was founded as Babel’s translation service department. Babel Career System (currently Babel Staff Co., Ltd.) was founded in 1987 as an agency providing professional staffing of translators and other language-related professionals. These two departments provide our alumni with a career support system as translation professionals. The high quality of our graduates is evidenced by the overwhelming positive feedback received regarding Babel translation services and staffing. Because Babel Trans-Media Center and Babel Staff Co., Ltd. are active in the business community, we can keep up with the latest information and needs of the industry and quickly incorporate that information into our educational curriculum. Since its foundation, Babel has also been active in publication through Babel Press, which has published reference books on translation and translation techniques. Babel also published the monthly magazine World of Translation, a popular translation magazine which increased awareness about the translation profession. Now called The Professional Translator, this web magazine provides readers with helpful information on translation techniques and business.

The Internet and Translation

The Internet has drastically changed the translation business environment. The market has expanded globally at a dizzying pace, not only creating a large demand for various types of translation, but also literally transforming the translation process. Learning institutions therefore have had to adapt to this ever-changing business environment. Translators without computer skills and Internet knowledge cannot survive in the translation world. Translators are expected to be adept at using various computer-assisted translation tools, searching for information on the Internet, and working a virtual team member. Translators must constantly strive to produce even higher quality translation by incorporating new techniques, information, and technology.

Japan and the US

Japan is known as a country of translation. For centuries, Japan has been importing various information from abroad, not only translating that information into Japanese but also refining it to help seamlessly mold to fit the national culture. Babel has incorporated this approach to translation in developing its Plain Language and Translation Grammar courses. In contrast to Japan’s rather homogenous population, the US population is comprised of people of various ethnic backgrounds. This has resulted in the development of straightforward communication techniques that are less culturally biased.
With the spread of the Internet, global communication has become increasingly commonplace. However, linguistic and cultural differences often result in miscommunication, often caused by lack of knowledge of cultural nuances surrounding languages being translated. Babel does not believe that translation is simply converting words from one language to another. Translation is conveying information form one language into another so that the entire context is effectively communicated. This can only be accomplished by having a deep understanding of cultures in both the source and target languages. Babel uses methods to provide clear and concise translation, making sure cultural differences are also accounted for.

Professional School of Translation

Babel is committed to providing professional instruction and training for translators. Professional instruction and certification ensures that graduates possess the skills and knowledge needed to produce accurate, timely, and polished translation. Just as doctors earn an M.D. and lawyers a J.D., professional translators should hold an advanced degree in their field.
Babel University Professional School of Translation (BUPST) is certified by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) as an accredited distance learning graduate school. This accreditation is proof of the quality of education BUPST provides.

Global Independence

BUPST students are well trained in translation techniques essential for today’s translation professionals. Our graduates earn a Master of Science in Translation (MST), which certifies that those graduates possess the skills and knowledge to effectively translate in the languages they have chosen. Graduates can work worldwide without having to travel. This professional freedom is what we like to call global independence.

* Translation Grammar is a unique system of grammar developed by Babel.

Major / Degree

Babel University offers a two-year master program in the following four majors.

• Major 1 Master of Science in Literary Translation
• Major 2 Master of Science in Finance and IR Translation
• Major 3 Master of Science in Patent, Technical and Medical Translation
• Major 4 Master of Science in Legal Translation

* Language:(English to Japanese, Japanese to English)

Students who earn required credits and successfully complete their thesis or graduation project will be granted a Master of Science in Translation (MST).

Program Tuition/Cost per credit hour

Admission Fee: US$2,000 / Tuition Fee Total: US$20,000 (Cost per credit hour: US$555/per credit)
For details click here>>>

Dean and Staff

	Akio Kobayashi (Dr., English Literature) First Major Literary Arts Translation Major		Akinori Nakajima (MS, Management) Second Major Finance & IR Translation Major
	Takashi Kosaka ( MA., Cross-cultural Communication) Third Major Patent, Technical and Medical Translation Major		Yoshiharu Ishida, Head of Deans (BA., Legal Communication) Fourth Major Legal Translation Major

Chancellor: Miyoko Yuasa
Vice Chancellor: Tomoki Hotta
General Counsel: Yoshiharu Ishida
Director of Administration: Miyoko Yuasa
Educational Director: Tomoki Hotta
Advertisement & Publishing Manager: Junko Rodriguez
Student Service Manager: Yuji Tateno
eTrans Technology Manager: Seiichi Komuro
Alumni Service Manager: Hisayo Miyamoto

Advisory Board:
Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahara (majoring in Translation Theories)
Dr. Sugao Kawamura (majoring in Translation Cultures)
Dr. Takanari Tajiri (majoring in Trans-personal Psychology)
Dr. Kei Fujisawa (majoring in Linguistics & Music Theories)

For contacting faculties, the admission office acts as an intermediary for protecting privacy.

Name of Institution: Babel University Professional School of Translation
Year Founded: January 2000
Chancellor: Miyoko Yuasa
First Accredited: January 2002
Second Accredited: January 2007
Third Accredited: January 2013

Company Name: Babel Corporation
Year Founded: July 1996
CEO / President: Tomoki Hotta
Corporate Secretary: Yuji Tateno
Treasurer: Miyoko Yuasa

Administration Office
#208, 1833 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815, US
TEL:808-946-3773 / FAX:808-946-3993

Hours of Operation and Holidays

10:00am – 17:00pm　Monday through Friday

Mission

“Communication is Translation. Translation is Communication.” By embracing and inheriting our founder’s spirit, the Babel University Professional School of Translation (BUPST) fulfils our mission to develop a high-quality, practical translation education program for English-to-Japanese and Japanese-to-English translation and provide our students with the knowledge and skills necessary for translation professionals.

We strive to empower our students to realize their full potential and enable them to contribute to individuals, societies, education, industries, nations, and the world as “bridges of communication” for sharing and exchanging information, knowledge, wisdom, and insight which surpasses culture and language barriers around the world.

Goals

In order to achieve the mission stated above, BUPST educates its students to have the following competencies with key abilities, achieved through distance learning:

Language Competence
• Read and understand the source language accurately and deeply.
• Write and express the target language in a stylish manner as well as in a way that is easily understood and is suited for each genre.
• Read source materials and write, review, edit, proofread translated materials critically as a professional translator. Thinking critically does not mean grasping original or translated materials negatively, but rather, checking and considering the logical composition and content of the original and translated text to identify issues in translation, analyze them properly, and translate them appropriately.

Expert Competence
• Develop and possess expertise in at least one area of specialization.
• Develop specialized skill knowledge essential for each genre.
• Acquire the techniques to research and obtain necessary information.

Cultural Competence
• Understand the cultural background of the writer and the source materials.
• Understand the cultural background of the target audience.
• Integrate the understandings of both of these backgrounds to produce translation that will satisfy both the source and target cultures.

IT Competence
• Use hardware and software applications required for translation.
• Understand computer-aided translation (CAT) technology.
• Acquire research skills using information technology (IT) tools.

Managerial Competence
• Have fundamental knowledge of the basic legal rights of a professional translator.
• Be professional regarding time management, problem solving, work efficiency, and work effectiveness.
• Demonstrate sufficient ability in leadership, coordination, and collaboration to execute team-based translation projects.

Program Outcomes (Corresponding to Five Competencies)

Upon successful completion, students will be able to do the following:

• Translate skillfully while considering the client’s needs, audience perception, and cultural differences of multiple countries from a professional translator’s view point. (Language, Expert, and Cultural Competencies)
• Translate using specialized terminology and expressions in one’s field of expertise. (Expert Competence )
• Demonstrate a high level of writing, summarizing, drafting, proofreading skills. (Language and Expert Competencies)
• Analyze, assess, and judge what key points would need to be discussed and explained to the client during a translation project and propose solutions proactively in a translation project to ensure smooth execution. (Language, Expert, Cultural, and Managerial Competencies)
• Correctly estimate one’s work speed in advance to manage work schedules efficiently during translation projects. (Managerial Competence)
• Demonstrate a high level of research skills necessary for any translation project. (Expert and IT Competencies)
• Demonstrate basic IT skills to perform translation work in a professional manner. (IT Competence)