The 4 Video Localization Options for e-Learning Scenarios

E-Learning scenarios are the hardest type of content for video localization. Why? Because they are narrative scenes which require labor-intensive creative localization, but which also have a very specific educational and legal purpose, requiring tighter translation accuracy than most entertainment content. Fortunately, producers and localization professionals have multiple cost-effective options to tackle these types of videos.

This post will list the four localization options available for e-Learning scenarios.

[Average read time: 4 minutes]

First, what exactly are e-Learning scenarios?

They’re the short scenes used to illustrate an e-Learning course. For example, a module on workplace collaboration may feature a one-minute scene in which two colleagues have a tough time working together. What’s unique about e-Learning scenarios is that they’re narrative – that is to say, these short scenes tell a fictional story.

That means that localizing scenarios requires balancing the narrative elements – the story itself – with the educational needs of the course. After all, modules usually have instructional, legally-binding, or highly technical content, all of which must be translated with a very high degree of accuracy. However, the narrative of the scenes often requires more creativity and more labor-intensive translation or transcreation – depending on the localization option that’s chosen. This tension is a theme in all four video localization options.

With that in mind, here they are.

1. Lip-Sync Dubbing

Because these scenarios are akin to short scenes from a movie or TV show, it makes sense that the most common localization option is dubbing, specifically lip-sync.  Despite this option’s popularity, though, scenarios are particularly difficult to dub. Why? Because lip-sync requires drastic script editing so that the final translations will line up with characters’ mouths. However, the translation accuracy requirements of most courses don’t allow for a lot of creative leeway. These two competing needs – translation accuracy and editing for lip-sync –essentially make for longer sessions, as talents re-take lines for fit, as well as a very labor-intensive post-production.

For more information, see our previous post Video Translation: Lip-Sync Dubbing for e-Learning & Corporate Content.

2. Subtitling

Subtitling is very cost-effective and rapid, and allows for a high degree of translation accuracy – even despite the character limit restrictions imposed to ensure accessibility. It has two main drawbacks, however. First, subtitles don’t provide the immersive experience of a dubbed video, which may affect audience engagement. And second, they require audiences to read, which may be an issue for workforces that have different degrees of literacy.

3. Multilingual Video Production (Re-Shooting)

Digital cameras, online editing systems and green-screen technology have lowered video production costs dramatically in the last 20 years – which is why we’re seeing a proliferation of green-screen video-based e-Learning courses. For localization, this also means that re-shooting is now a real localization option. In fact, depending on the kind of setup and number of talents needed, it may even be more cost-effective than lip-sync.

Re-shooting has two main advantages. First, it allows for full transcreation, in which scripts can be re-written specifically for the target audience. Second, it allows for full set localization, so that all the elements in the video – including the actors – look like they belong in the audience’s locale. In short, it provides the most comprehensive localization experience.

For more information, see our previous post e-Learning Translation: Green-screen for Multilingual Video Suites.

4. Picturization

Picturization replaces a video with just enough still images to convey the content of a scene. The images change when the speaker changes, and to reflect the main beats in emotion or performance. This image sequence can then be voiced in foreign languages without any timing or lip-syncing, lowering voice-over recording costs and increasing translation accuracy. In fact, this practice isn’t new to e-Learning – scenes composed of still images have been a staple of courses for many years.

There are two main drawbacks, though. First, this option requires more setup time to create and review the picturized source video. Second, full performances are reduced to stills, so that some of the scenario content is ultimately left out. But its cost and translation-accuracy benefits make it a very attractive option for course developers.

For more information, see our previous post How to “Picturize” Content for Video Translation.

Plan your localization strategy before you shoot your English videos

This is the best way to ensure your e-Learning scenario video localization stays cost-effective, especially if you know how a minor choice during development and shooting will affect the foreign-language productions. For example, producers can cut down on the number of characters (or even just speaking parts), which reduces lip-sync costs. Or they can re-structure the video content itself – for example, by replacing on-screen presenters with off-screen narration, which requires much less labor in the studio. Or, they can even shoot the localized versions of the videos at the same time as the English, which minimizes the costs of video production altogether. As with all multimedia localization, planning ahead is critical to keeping project costs low, and staying on budget and on schedule – and most importantly, to maintaining a high level of quality.