There are several challenges to overcome in e-learning narration for both the e-learning developer and the voice actor.
In the first instance, e-learning clients don’t often communicate their expectations clearly to the voiceover artists.
Moreover, many voice actors neglect to prep properly.
Opting to wing it on the day, they might not review the given script for the e-learning narration nor take time to understand the target audience and the desired delivery style.
The result? Oodles of costly revisions or an e-learning video that’s well below par.
And yet, there are some simple ways to overcome the challenges in e-learning narration.
All it takes is a willingness to consider the needs of the client and the talent, and a readiness to apply both to every project in an efficient, professional manner.
In this article, we’ve highlighted 5 of the most common challenges in e-learning narration, with suggestions on how to overcome them.
Common Challenge #1: Engaging Content
As a business stepping into e-learning, you may be excited about sharing knowledge that could take the user onto an exciting educational pathway, a new career level, or a journey of self-discovery that will open dozens of doors to a successful and satisfying life.
But what if your e-learning students find the information they’re consuming too tedious or convoluted?
This can easily happen with a script that reads like a business whitepaper or technical manual.
American Voice Actor Jan A.
Jan A. a voice actor regularly sought out for his skills in e-learning narration, says:
E-learning scripts can often read like a textbook—stilted and very uncoversational.
I think many “scriptwriters” don’t understand the difference in writing materials that are meant to be read aloud.
How to Overcome this Challenge:
Fortunately, you don’t need a scriptwriting qualification from Julliard to ensure your e-learning video is engaging.
There are a couple of simple steps to implement to ensure your video holds the attention of the viewer.
The first rule of thumb—keep the script conversational.
The e-learner will relate more if they feel they’re being talked to not talked at.
Jan A. suggests:
Inject some personality into your scripts! No one wants to hear a textbook read aloud. That stuff, I’m afraid, will put most students to sleep!
Secondly—keep it short.
According to Wyzowl, a leading explainer video company, the typical attention span of most adults is under 10 seconds!
This doesn’t mean all viewers will switch off from your video after it’s been playing for more than 10 seconds.
But they might stop listening to a long, involved sentence that seems to go on forever, even if it is chockful of crucial information.
Short, succinct sentences with a pop of personality and a video that doesn’t last longer than it needs to nor takes up too much of the student’s time, will make a huge amount of difference to the success of your video.
Common E-Learning Narration Challenge #2: Formatting
Learning modules are often developed using PowerPoint or other programs combining text, images, and flow diagrams.
However, just as in live presentations, the narration typically doesn’t involve reading the entire text.
Yet, with that said, e-learning developers often send over the presentation graphics and slides instead of a trimmed-down, targeted script.
Their expectation? That the hired voice talent will be able to shape a script from these assets during the recording.
Nu-huh.
A professional talent seasoned in long-form narration can, of course, present an e-learning narration at the right pace and intonation, delivering the implicit message the developer wishes to convey within the tutorial, be it a marketing-oriented message or an informative one.
But they can only do this if they’re provided with a well-structured, properly formatted script, complete with direction on key areas of the learning materials.
For example, check out how smooth the flow is in this Voice Crafters’ video for SalesForce’s CRM – E-learning module:
How to Overcome this Challenge:
As noted above, developers need to present the voice actor with a clearly formatted script.
When the narration script is formatted such that it is divided into clearly named individual files (and there could be more than one per slide), it is much easier to synchronize the audio with the visuals, regardless of the software used to ultimately produce the module.
If the e-learning developer pops direction notes into columns alongside the script’s text, that will help the talent even more.
They’ll be able to instantly visualize where more emphasis is called for and which phrases need to be recorded in what style.
Common Challenge #3: Pronunciation
You say tomato, I say tom-ay-toe!
But while, in this instance, we still likely know the regular fruit we’re referencing, it’s not always so easy with technical terms. Add proprietary labels and weird abbreviations into the mix and we’ve got pronunciation mayhem.
As voiceover experts, we get it, though.
E-learning professionals are sometimes so deeply immersed in their material and accustomed to bandying about industry terms that they can forget those same words, phrases, and abbreviations are like another language to industry outsiders.
Therefore, when it comes to crafting the narration script, they rarely include directions on the pronunciation of specific technical and other terms.
Of course, the best voice talent will typically research correct pronunciations. But what if time is a factor (spoiler alert: it usually is) and they have to deliver ASAP?
Additionally, what if there’s no public information on the proper way to pronounce particular proprietary terms and the client is not available to provide clarification?
How to Overcome this Challenge:
The most efficient way to overcome this challenge is to include a style guide.
Just as writers use different writing style guides—generally based on the AP Style Book, Chicago Manual of Style, or their own in-house template—so too will voice actors benefit from a similar manual.
It could be an audio manual with recordings of exact pronunciation.
The point is to create an asset with clear guidelines on how to pronounce everything important to the developer.
Your e-learning narration guide should include:
Unique names
Geographical locations
Products, numbers (i.e. is “1,300” “thirteen hundred” or “one thousand three hundred”?)
Symbols
All other words with questionable pronunciations.
As Jan A. notes:
Scripts shouldn’t leave the narrator scratching their heads over things like that. Even writing something out long-hand can help.
Creating a VO style guide may initially take some time and effort. But in the long run, it’ll actually save on both.
Why?
Well, if every script for a new e-learning module or course is accompanied by a relevant style guide, it will greatly aid the talent in delivering a quality product.
It’ll also ensure e-learning companies aren’t left red-faced because their online courses are peppered with mispronunciations of the top terms they’re teaching!
Common Challenge #4: Delivery
An e-learning developer typically has a vision for the look and sound of their video courses.
Depending on the tutorial topic, they may be imagining a friendly, baritone voice or a more deep-voiced, authoritative tone.
They might even be looking for a specific accent, like a British accent or a more southern-sounding American accent if the end product is targeted to an audience in Texas, Tennessee, or any or all of the other American Southern states.
Yet even with a specific vocal sound and style in mind, they can easily end up lost when sifting through countless voice samples.
Moreover, even a quick email to an agency with basic details about requirements jotted down, may not yield the results they’re looking for.
How to Overcome this Challenge:
Choosing the right talent for the job is a critical step in the creation of any video.
Voice talent agencies should be willing to provide voice auditions from select talents based on detailed criteria delivered by the developer.
This criteria needs to include basic requirements such as:
Preferred gender/age/ethnicity if applicable
Specific accents or dialects, again, if applicable
The feeling they want the voice to evoke (i.e. warmth, reassurance, authority, etc,.)
It would also be beneficial if they provided aural references of the kind of narration style they want.
This could be a voiceover from an earlier e-learning tutorial, a segment of the talent’s voice demo that they liked, or even a VO that resonated with them from a podcast or audiobook.
The more information the developer can provide on their desired narration, the more likely the agency will be able to meet their requirements for the voice auditions.
Following that, when it comes to audition time, the developer will get a real sense of how their final product might sound, and be excited to get going with the project.
On the voice actors side of business, Jan A. recommends the talent communicates clearly with the client to ensure both are united on what’s needed.
Jan says:
Read style is something I try to nail down in advance with the client with recording samples of their script.
I’ll start with seeing if they like a particular style from my demo and then refine it to their taste.
Common Challenge #5: Script
Developing a learning module is a multi-step process involving not only the developer, but expert content providers, the end client, and possibly other stakeholders.
During the process, the module’s script is modified endlessly until ultimately the end client approves it.
But does that mean there won’t be changes after the recording? Not by a long shot!
How to Overcome this Challenge:
Unfortunately, script changes after the fact are out of the control of voice actors and voice talent agencies.
Many times a client will view the learning module after the audio has been embedded in, and decide that script changes are necessary.
The only thing to do here is to make sure well in advance that the voice talent who originally voiced the narration is available for a pickup session if needed.
Add this into contracts and, depending on the nature and size of the project, state the number of revisions the talent will be obligated to undertake.
That way, everyone’s on the same page about rewrites and any other further work needed.
Final Thoughts
These are just four simple steps towards a smoother and more successful collaboration in e-learning narration.
Ultimately, it all comes down to clearer communication, better formatting, and an acceptance that the aim of everyone involved, from the developer to the voice talent, is to achieve the best possible, quality product.
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