- March 29, 2021
- Posted by: Eva
- Category: Blog
The E-learning industry was unmistakably on the rise even before the attack of COVID-19. The international E-learning market reached $144 billion in 2019 [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/17/2146962/0/en/Global-E-learning-Market-Size-Trends-Will-Reach-USD-374-3-Billion-by-2026-Facts-Factors.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20research%20study,14.6%25%20from%202019%20to%202026.], and was predicted to exceed $370 billion by 2026.
So, what about the coronavirus outcome? Is it a negative outcome or a desirable one? And what about E-learning?
On the ground, schools were shut all over the world, and, therefore, education had to change radically. Teaching is currently being provided remotely on digital platforms. In the areas of online learning software, virtual tutoring language apps, video conferencing tools, among others, E-learning is one of the industries that is seeing a significant surge since COVID-19.
So, is it a transient, short-lived effect?
The answer is yes, unequivocally! The changes the pandemic has brought about are here to stay. The rising integration of technology in education will increase day by day so that online teaching and training will over time become part and parcel of education all across the globe.
However, we still have to raise an important question: How are E-learning businesses going to deliver their educational content to international audiences?
Did anybody say “localization”?!
E-Learning Localization
Simply, E-Learning localization is when you adjust your online educational materials so that they meet the preferences and needs of learners and trainees in different countries, different markets, and different audiences. Even though translation might constitute the major part of E-learning localization, yet the process includes other areas, such as adapting to cultural differences and local regulations.
When it comes to the translation of educational content, the process requires that you, as an online learning provider, should partner with a professional supplier of translation services.
As for the localization of e-learning video content, a smart E-learning business has 2 major choices on hand: voice-over services and video subtitling services. Let’s dive deeper to make a comparison.
E-Learning Voiceover Service
Voiceover means re-recording your E-Learning audio files into the language of your intended target audience. Voiceover comprises 3 options ─ UN-style narration, off-camera narration, and dubbing.
This service adds a natural look and feel to your educational courses, making them highly professional in the eyes of your audiences. It’s wonderful especially when the educational materials include a great deal of on-screen text or when the audio files have multiple speakers.
On the other hand, voiceover recording services are more costly than subtitling the educational content. Off-camera narration and UN-style narration are much more cost-effective than dubbing. Dubbing, however, also requires more work with engineering and timing and, hence, requires more time and cost.
Notably, as voiceover recording includes translating a script, so the text might expand. This leads to expanding the recording length, forcing the voiceover artist to speak faster, which might affect audio synching and timing.
E-Learning Subtitling Service
Subtitling, here, is adding subtitles in the language of the targeted audience to the narration of the video course.
In general, subtitling is less costly than the voiceover service. Further, adding a subtitle does not impact the original audio track of the training course. However, it typically affects the course visually in terms of screen space. For that reason, you need to keep the subtitles at around two lines apiece. It’s also important to note that subtitling becomes increasingly difficult when there’s a lot of onscreen text and several speakers.
So, how will you choose between voiceover and subtitling?
Voiceover Versus Subtitling
It depends on several factors that you have to consider, including your budget, and the level of quality you wish for. So, if your budget is relatively limited, you should go for subtitling. Besides, if the course has a lot of on-screen text, voiceover might be a better choice.
Finally, we have to ask about the role of your localization service provider. What on earth can they do for you?
How can EuroLingo help?
It’s been our job for the past 17 years. Eurolingo has over the years established an impressive track record in translating and localizing all types of online educational materials and resources. Videos, article texts, podcasts, charts/graphs, animated GIFs, webinars, case studies, blog posts, interviews, e-books, PowerPoint presentations, white papers, and even cartoons. We localize them all to provide a thrilling experience for learners and trainees.
Our team is unique. They comprise dedicated experts whose experience and expertise enable them to deliver perfectly localized content for all your E-Learning material.
Contact us today for a free quote.
