1. COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
SUBTITLING IN FRENCH
Janine Kopp
French Studies

2. Project Background Information
A. Key issues in Modern Languages
Student recruitment
Student motivation
Drive for applied language degrees
Digital Literacy (staff and students)
Employability
B. Why this project?
Enhanced problem-solving and reflective learning
Enhanced Digital Literacy and linguistic skills
First-hand experience in professional communication skills
First-hand experience of collaborative learning with industry
Introduction to alternative career paths
Potential for fostering a niche market for Languages at Hull

3. The Project
The participants
Aims
7 final year students
4 language with translation
2 language
1 language with marketing
Staff at the university
1 French tutor – Janine Kopp
1 Specialist AV technician - David Wilson
SME involved (Melissi)
1 software developer – Jim Hawkins
Production of a subtitling teaching software in collaboration with Hull students of French. Provision of Training in the key functions of subtitling

4. The Project Development Phases
Phase 1: (February 2017)
Translation theory and subtitling conventions acquisitions
Evaluation of first version of software (upgrade from a previous version)
Phase 2: (May 2017)
Identification of features required and beta-testing of this new version
Communication exchange with software developer
Evaluation of subsequent versions, testing and error reports
Phase 3: (on-going and imminent)
Evaluation of final version and fine- tuning of software
Student assessment
Module and project evaluation

5. The Software – Key Features & Functionality

6. What the Students Said:
Student 1: “ it has been frustrating but I really enjoyed it.”
Student 2: “A few technical issues with the software throughout this module but everyone was in the same boat and issues were generally resolved quickly.”
Student 3: “I did not know how much is involved in software development; and I have realised what is really meant by going over and over your work.”
Student 4: “A really interesting module which helped me have an idea of what I want to do in the future.”

7. What the Software Company Said
“ Software companies usually live in a silicon tower conveniently distant from their users. Think Microsoft, think Apple. We are forced to use what they dictate in the way they think we should use it. But small development houses can be adaptive, because they are not constrained by vast layers of management and committees. Over its sixteen years the Melissi language lab system has developed in very close relationship with the University of Hull.
Consequently, it was natural to develop the new subtitling system for Melissi Version Five in collaboration with Janine Kopp and her students. We delivered a working system in January, but over the course of the module the software has evolved to embody feedback from teaching staff, technical staff and students. It is now a powerful tool, which allows real-time editing of subtitles on just about any video source, and can render a fully professional-standard output video including the subtitles.
This close working relationship between academic needs and the programmer seems to me to be of value in many ways. For staff, it enables the delivery of what they need for teaching purposes. For students, it gives them the extremely rare opportunity to break open the black box of a program and see their problems solved, their wishes implemented in the space of a few days. I doubt if this experience if available anywhere else.
Cynics will probably say that we’re just beta-testing our software with a captive class of students; but it goes well beyond that. Beta-testing means killing bugs. In this case, we are, of course doing that, but crucially also improving interfaces, adding features, and working together to at least attempt excellence. It’s a proper collaboration, and all the staff and students involved will be credited in the program when it goes on general release.”
Software Developer / Melissi /

8. So, what next?
Hull to potentially become a centre specialised in Applied Language Degrees with a focus on training for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
To seek funding to that effect
Potential future new taught modules in:
Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Embedding Sign Language in videos
Audio-description for the Blind and Sight Loss
accessed 08/05/17