Outline Comprehensive Subtitling Course
The Comprehensive Course enables you to learn subtitling
in three to four months. It focuses on active learning.
The Comprehensive Subtitling Course covers:
- Normal subtitling
- Subtitling for the hearing-impaired (captioning)
- SLS (Same Language Subtitling),
used to fight illiteracy in India - How to make voice-over translations
You can learn the art of subtitling whatever your native tongue or target language, provided you have a good knowledge of English.
Subtitling software used: the free trial version of Spot.
The three modules of The Comprehensive Course
(duration: 11-16 weeks)
If you enroll in all three modules together,
the costs are 300 Euros (discount: 50 Euros).
Module 1, timing with Spot
Price: 100 Euros
Duration: 3 to 4 weeks
Including: Guide/Log, leading you through the module, E-book with the chapters "Settings in Spot", "Subtitling terms" and "Timing", sample files, video files, demomovies and typing software.
Description: You'll familiarize yourself with the Spot subtitling software and the most important subtitling terms, you'll subtitle a pretimed video file, and you'll learn how to time.
Feedback: At the end of this Module you'll deliver 25 timed subtitles with random text for feedback.
If you just want to learn timing and working with Spot,
you can opt for just Module 1.
Module 2, basic subtitling skills
Price: 150 Euros
Duration: 4 to 6 weeks
Including:Guide/Log, E-book with the chapters "Basic subtitling rules", "Subtitling skills" and"Translation skills",
video files, exercises and a demomovie.
Description: You'll gradually learn to apply all the subtitling rules, practice condensing, and start subtitling different video files from scratch. The E-book will help you avoid picking up bad subtitling habits. With its clear tables, words in bold type and markers, it is easy to scan before you start practicing. The Guide/Log will lead you through the module.
Feedback: At the end of this Module you'll get feedback on 25 subtitles.
Module 3, advanced subtitling skills
Price: 100 Euros
Duration: 4 to 6 weeks
Including:Guide/Log, E-book with Mindmaps and the chapter "Expert subtitling", diverse video files,
sample files
and a captioning guide.
Description: You'll subtitle more diverse and more difficult video files. With the help of the mindmaps you'll be able to scan the subtitling rules before you start subtitling. The Guide/Log and choice of video files will encourage you to raise the standard of your work to a higher level.
Feedback, evaluation and certificate: At the end of this module, you will get feedback on and evaluation of 25 subtitles. In addition you'll get your Certificate sent to you by post.
Further details
We'll invite you to become a member of the discussion group for our students. By e-mailing the group or visiting the group page, you can exchange subtitle files with other students, getting and giving comments. This feedback to and from other students is very helpful and, of course, free. Occasionally, tips and job offers will be published on the group page, and it may well develop into a valuable international network.
We give free live support. You can chat with us every day, asking questions and solving possible problems.
The DVD you'll receive after enrolling, contains everything you need to do the course.
The Guide/Logs will lead you through each module, stimulate you with reminders and questions,
and help you keep track
of your progress.
The video files are well-chosen, from a nature documentary in Module 1 to Monty Python & the Holy
Grail
at the end of Module 3.
The detailed Guide/Logs will lead you through the corresponding modules, keeping you
on the right track and helping you
to keep track
of your progress.
Students and ex-students are eligible for a discount of 20% on Spot software. Just send us an e-mail.
Screen shots
A page of the Guide/Log of Module 1
A page of the E-book of Module 2
Contents of Module 2 on the DVD
Module 3 includes mindmaps, covering the different modules of The Comprehensive Subtitling Course, enabling you to scan the subtitling rules before practising.
A fragment of one of the mind maps in Module 3
One of the demomovies
You will work with Spot's trial version
(see www.spotsoftware.nl/downloads.html for more details).
Spot in rehearse
Of course, you'll become a member of the discussion group. In this closed group you'll be able to discuss subtitling problems with other students and give each other feedback without any costs, as well as receiving useful information.
The discussion group for students
At the end of all modules you'll get feedback on 25 subtitles, again keeping you on the right track.
A feedback/evaluation form
At the end of the course you'll get an evaluation and a certificate. Also we'll keep your name on file, as a reference.
Certificate of the Comprehensive Subtitling Course
Additional details
Your Guide/Log also functions as a week-log, in which you're encouraged to make your own notes,
keeping track of your progress.
On average, this course takes about three months to complete, but you can do it more quickly or slowly if you want to.
Should you not complete your subtitling course, you will have all the necessary material to do so at a later stage, but feedback, evaluation and certificate are restricted to a four-month-period.
This course can be an enjoyable first step toward a successful career as a subtitler, and will give you extra skills as a translator.
If you have any questions or problems 
send us an e-mail
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For further study, we advise Jorge Díaz Cintas/Aline Remael, Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling, St. Jerome, 2007.
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