Teaching & Learning

In response to the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on the language industry, the Faculty of Languages and Translation (FLT) pioneered the strategic use of popular social media platforms - WeChat Official Account and rednote (Xiaohongshu). A key initiative was the online lecture series titled "Rebuilding the Tower of Babel: Exploring New Approaches to Chinese-Portuguese Translation in the Age of AI" ( 重建巴別塔:探索AI時代下中葡翻譯新思路 ), conducted during 12 March to 16 April 2025. 

This series comprised six sessions, each delivered by one of six lecturers teaching in the Programme of Master of Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpreting. The main theme focused on new translation approaches in the AI era, covering topics including language technology professionals, subtitle translation, interpreting studies, post-editing & cultural decoding, simultaneous interpreting, and corpora & translation memory. 

Although these sessions were delivered by lecturers from the Master's Programme in Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpreting (MPU), the content was not limited to master's students; it was also open to undergraduate students at various stages of their studies and to the general public with an interest in languages and translation. The lectures were typically scheduled during the prime evening slot of 19:30 to 20:30, with specific dates arranged flexibly by the participating lecturers according to their timetables. This scheduling approach, combined with online delivery via these two platforms, maximized accessibility for the target audience of students and working professionals. Links to the live broadcasts can be found on FLT's social media accounts for those who wish to review them later. 

This project seamlessly aligned with MPU's strategic goals of digital transformation, community outreach, and programme promotion, while directly serving FLT's core mission of cultivating future-ready translation professionals. FLT will continue to use social media to maintain active and effective communication with students and other interested individuals. 

Nowadays, social media has great influence on young people such as students. Making good use of social media can narrow the distance between the faculty and students, establish the faculty's image as keeping up with the times in the minds of students, and at the same time improve the efficiency of information transmission and programme promotion. 

Taking the lecture senes "Rebuilding the Tower of Babel: Exploring New Approaches to Chinese-Portuguese Translation in the Age of AI" organised by FLT as an example, this lecture series was conducted via popular online live streaming, aligning with the preferences of young audience today, and without space limitations, the number of viewers was unrestricted, while the atmosphere was relaxed. 

The lectures introduced various aspects of Chinese-Portuguese translation in the AI era in an easy-to-understand manner. The broad range of topics was closely related to the job market and easily stimulated the audience's interest. 

In the context of Al's popularity, the lectures analysed the correct relationship between AI and translation, enabling the audience to understand the supportive role of AI in translation, clarifying misunderstandings among laypeople regarding AI replacing translators, and enhancing the confidence of current students in their profession.