This article explains the two ways content in multiple languages is available in the Go1 library, how to find multi-lingual content, common terms used around translations, and Content Providers (CPs) who offer content in multiple languages.
Overview
Learning experiences via Go1 are available in over 40 languages. Some languages have a wide variety of options, with thousands of courses in Spanish, French, and German, while others currently have only a few, such as a couple of hundred courses in Czech. With rare exceptions, all content in the Go1 library is available in English. Content in languages other than English is available in two ways:
Alternative Language options – separate pieces of content offered in different languages
Supported Language options – a single piece of content with multiple language choices available
Go1’s library currently features over 25,000 pieces of content in alternative languages and over 8,000 pieces of content with a supported language option to choose from a number of different languages.
1. Alternative Language option as a separate piece of content
This is a course created in a source language and made available in the Go1 library in that language. This same course is also translated into a target language (or languages) and made available in the Go1 library in that language (or languages).
[See the Terminology section for definitions of bolded words]
Titles for pieces of content in Alternative Languages will have the English title in parentheses, either: Title in English (Title in target language) or Title in target
language (Title in English). [Some Content Providers (CPs) do not follow this titling convention, including Blinkist, Coursera, and Skillsoft.]
The nature of translation varies across Content Providers (CPs) who offer Alternative Languages in separate pieces of content. Some of the pieces of content include
voiceover in the target language on videos and some include only subtitles or a transcript. This can also vary by language for content by the same CP.
Please see Content Providers (CPs) who offer Alternative Language Options for more details.
2. Supported Language options within a single piece of content
This is a course with an English title and description that, upon launching, offers the option to choose a different target language in which to engage in the learning experience.
Courses with a Supported Language option can offer 1 other language or over 40 other languages. Most offer between 5-15 different target languages.
[See the Terminology section for definitions of bolded words.]
The nature of translation varies across Content Providers (CPs) who offer courses in different languages via a Supported Language option. Some of the courses include voiceover in the target language on videos and some include only subtitles or a transcript. This can vary by language as well for content by the same CP. NB: Courses with 20+ different language options rely on machine translations and provide only subtitles.
Please see Content Providers (CPs) who offer Supported Language Options for more details.
Terminology
Thousands of courses in the Go1 content library are translated into other languages to meet the needs of learners around the globe. Many different terms are used to describe translation in general and in the specific context of Go1. Below are key terms and what they mean related to courses in the Go1 content library.
Key Terms:
Translation: The process of converting spoken words or text from one language to another
Source Language: The original language of the content to be translated
Target Language: The language into which the content is translated
Nature & Presentation of Translations:
Subtitles can be in the source language (transcription) or a target language (translation)
Subtitles typically translate dialogue for viewers who don't speak the video's language, providing a text alternative for spoken words
Closed Captions (CC) are similar to subtitles, but are not the same. Closed Captions (CC) provide a transcript of all meaningful audio, including dialogue, music, and relevant sound effects, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Subtitles: text displayed at the bottom of a video that translates or transcribes the dialogue or narrative
Subtitles are for language translation, while Closed Captions (CC) are for accessibility
Go1-specific: Many Content Providers (CPs) use a “CC” icon on videos to indicate where learners should click to activate subtitles on a video
Voiceover: an audiovisual translation technique that involves reading a translated script over the original audio of a video, where the original background audio is muted or turned down
The voiceover can be a human voice or a computer-generated voice
Dubbing is a more intensive version of voiceover in which the original voice performance, aiming to match the actors' lip movements and emotions
Transcript: the written text of spoken audio or video content in its original language; a source language transcript can be translated into a transcript in a target language
Localization: adapting content for a specific locale, considering cultural nuances and other factors.
In the Go1 content library, the nature & presentation of translated content vary across Content Providers (CPs), across courses, and across languages. Whether translated content is available as an Alternative Language or as a Supported Language does not indicate the nature & presentation of the translation.
Some of the courses available in multiple languages as Alternative Languages include voiceover in the target language on videos and some include only subtitles or a transcript. This can also vary by language for content by the same CP. The same is true for translations available via Supported Language options.
Processes:
Human Translation: translation by a human who is proficient in both the source and the target languages
Machine / AI Translation: the use of computer programs and artificial intelligence to automatically translate text or speech from one language to another without direct human involvement
Human Verified Translation: a translation that is reviewed and corrected by a human expert to ensure high quality and accuracy, especially after being initially generated by a machine or AI
In the Go1 content library, the process for translated content varies across Content Providers (CPs), across courses, and across languages. Whether translated content is available as an Alternate Language or as a Supported Language does not indicate the process to create the translation. However, most courses with 20+ Supported Language options rely on machine translations without human verification. Other translations available by method are human verified or fully human translated.
Go1-specific:
Alternative Language: a learning experience available in different languages via separate pieces of content
Supported Language: a piece of content with an English title and description that, upon launching, offers the option to choose a different target language in which to engage in the learning experience
Content Providers (CPs) who offer Alternative Language Options
Content Providers (CPs) who offer Alternative Language Options:
CPs not on this list or the Supported Language list offer content only in English*
*Najah Train offers learning only in Arabic; Skillsday & Proactech offer learning only in French; Duta Academy offers learning only in Indonesian; and Mosaico offers learning only in Italian. None of these CPs offers learning in English. They are the exception
Content Providers (CPs) who offer Supported Language Options
