2022/23 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MODL5081M Subtitling for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing and Audio Description

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Carlo Eugeni
Email: c.eugeni@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

This module is mutually exclusive with

MODL5006M

Introduction to Screen Translation

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module teaches the essential knowledge and practical skills to become a professional in the field of media accessibility in general and particularly in those of audio description (AD) for blind and partially-sighted people and subtitling for the deaf and the hard of hearing (SDH). Students will learn how to use professional software to produce professional SDH and AD for real-life materials (documentaries, series, and cartoons) for both the TV and platforms.

Objectives

The overall purpose of this module is to acquaint students with specific knowledge and skills to make audiovisual content accessible for people with a sensory disability (subtitling for deaf and hard-of-hearing people – SDH – and audio description – AD – for blind and partially-sighted people).
In particular, students will gain both theoretical and practical expertise in SDH and AD and be trained to implement various subtitling and description techniques depending on the target audience (adults, children), text types (documentary, series, cartoon), and the media (TV, OTT)
Students will use professional software, and will be able to perform a critical analysis of the context in which SDH and AD are required.
Training will be based on existing literature and practice.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. develop hands-on skills in Subtitling for the Deaf and the Hard of hearing (SDH) and Audio Description (AD) for the television and platforms using dedicated professional software;
2. work with commonly used SDH and AD principles and conventions;
3. identify needs and abilities of the target deaf and hard-of-hearing audience (for SDH) and blind and partially-sighted audience (for AD) when it comes to accessing audiovisual content;
4. turn acoustic content (dialogues, sounds and music) into written content for the deaf and hard of hearing;
5. turn visual content (images, actions, body language, camera movements) into verbal narration for blind and partially-sighted audiences;
6. have an advanced understanding of fictional and non-fictional texts and relevant translation strategies.

Skills outcomes
Audiovisual textual analytical skills;
Social differences skills;
Hands-on interlingual dubbing and VO skills using dedicated technologies.

Syllabus

In this module you will be introducedto the practical and cognitive aspects of pre-recorded subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) and pre-recorded audio description (AD) for blind and partially-sighted audiences.
Through a series of practical hands-on classes, you will focus on translating audiovisual texts to comply with time and space limitations specific to SDH and AD. The different activities will cover different contexts, including television and web-based platforms (OTT).

Relying on conventions and guidelines used in the media accessibility industry, you will practice in real-life scenarios and materials as well as professional software to create SDH and AD . You will also practice using adequate quality assessment frameworks to critically evaluate the adequacy of your work and that of your peers.

The working language will be English (video to subtitle and describe in English), but students may also work in other languages if they have an A language other than English.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
e-Lecture	12	0.30	3.00
Lecture	2	2.00	4.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Independent online learning hours			40.00
Private study hours			95.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students will be required to prepare for each class in terms of research through online and print sources – with regard to both SDH and AD theory and the specific subject areas covered (40 hours of private study).
Moreover, the students will be required to practise individually and in groups, to create (20+20 hours of independent training) and evaluate (40 hours of private study) SDH and AD products in order to build upon the practical work done in class. Guidance on this will be provided by the tutor. Students will be required to carry out regular, reflective study of their own progression and development and the implementation of the skills covered (15 hours of private study).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

As the module is practice- and skills-based, a week-by-week/class-by-class formative appraisal will be made by the tutors about the progress made. In particular students will receive personalised feedback about two files in their A language (an AD file and an SDH file) and reference flies about 4 files in English (2 AD and 2 SDH files), as well as answers to specific questions asked in class. Finally, a student file will be collectively corrected during each class.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	SDH file, AD file, and 2,000-word commentary	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The summative assessment comprises a single submission worth 100%. This will be completed in three stages: - Stage 1: AD of a 5-minute clip; - Stage 2: SDH of the same clip; - Stage 3: 2,000-word commentary critically analysing the clip and the SDH and AD files; Assessment of all learning outcomes will be included in this format. Resits will assume the same format.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/05/2022

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