Most people know captions make foreign language content accessible and assist individuals with hearing impairments. However, they don’t realize that there are many other ways and fields where subtitles are essential.
For example, even highly literate adults who watch videos with subtitles benefit from them. This is because, like captions, they illustrate the mapping between sound, meaning, and text.
Language Learning
Watching movies and TV shows with subtitles in foreign languages is an excellent way for language learners to expand their vocabulary, learn new pronunciation and sounds, and practice their listening skills. This is especially helpful when the video content is on a topic they are interested in, like science, cooking, politics, business, or pop culture. Plus, they can pause and replay the video as many times as needed to grasp the content.
Research worldwide has shown that captions can boost the attention to, comprehension of, and memory for video content — regardless of age or native language. If your foreign-language learning is too difficult, it may not be effective, and you might get discouraged. On the other hand, if it’s too easy, you might not learn much, and you may become bored. The optimal learning experience happens in the “zone of proximal development” (ZOPD).
In addition to watching foreign-language videos with subtitles, you should consider using video chat apps or a subtitle generator that brings together native speakers and learners. These apps allow you to ask questions and get answers in real time from native speakers who are willing to help you with your language struggles. This is a great way to build confidence and progress in your language journey. But remember that subtitles should be used only to aid in your language learning and shouldn’t replace other tools such as tutor-led classes and self-study materials.
Education
Education is a significant field where subtitles are necessary, especially for e-learning. Subtitles are essential for ensuring that all students have the same access to information, regardless of their hearing ability. In many cases, educational institutions are required by law to adhere to specific digital accessibility regulations. Using a visual learning platform makes educational content more accessible for all learners and can be archived to be easily searched in the future.
Besides helping people who are hard of hearing, subtitles also improve language learning by allowing students to watch educational videos without sound and still understand the presented material. Adding captions to videos is an effective way to boost engagement online, as it increases the accessibility of the video and provides a greater connection with the content.
Research shows that even highly literate adults benefit from watching captioned content. For example, when hearing college students watch course lectures with subtitles, they recall the content more than those who watched a class without them. This is consistent with the bilingual dual-coding theory, which states that people remember more when they receive information through multiple channels.
One of the best ways to learn a foreign language is by immersing yourself in it as much as possible. Subtitles are an ideal way to do this, as they allow students to pause and rewind the video to absorb the information better.
Entertainment
In today’s digital age, entertainment can take many forms. From YouTube videos and TikToks to Instagram Reels and more, people spend a lot of time watching shows, movies, and other online video content. This content is often consumed in public or on the go, making it even more critical that subtitles are available. Utilizing an online subtitle translator can further enhance the accessibility of entertainment content, breaking language barriers and allowing global audiences to enjoy diverse media effortlessly.
Subtitles allow viewers to watch a video without worrying about disturbing others or losing their place in the plot. They also help if the video has inconsistent audio or includes complicated vocabulary and unique dialects. Research by PLYMedia found that videos with subtitles saw 80% more completions than those without.
As a result, many people now opt to use subtitles on their favorite media. This helps them understand what is being said, improves memorability and comprehension. It also means that more people can enjoy a piece of content, which is especially important for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to making content more accessible, subtitles encourage greater engagement and boost SEO for video producers. They can be a vital tool for anyone producing video content and should be a part of any video strategy.
Healthcare
Captions are vital for healthcare videos and can be used to explain medical procedures, help with patient education, or even assist with language learning. In addition, subtitles can be used for social media videos since they allow viewers to engage with content when the video is on mute. Captions and subtitles also help understand industry jargon and abbreviations by visually representing what is being said. This allows for a more efficient and accurate comprehension of information. Additionally, subtitles can translate foreign films and TV shows into a person’s native language. This makes it easier for them to enjoy their favorite entertainment.