How to use automatic transcription tools for interpreting practice
Transcription for interpreting practice?
I know...it's a bit out there. 🪐
But with modern tools, it's easy to use an auto-generated transcription and audio or video recording to analyze your interpretation and provide pinpointed feedback.
Read on to learn more!
How to provide helpful feedback on an interpreting practice session
Before we delve into the tech, let's talk about feedback.
Good feedback is:
Actionable, with clear recommendations that can be implemented
Constructive, including areas for improvement and what went well
Targeted, based on the interpreter's aims for that practice session, and
Specific, including concrete examples that illustrate overarching patterns.
Of course, providing good feedback can be as simple as listening to a live interpretation or recording, identifying potential areas for improvement, and sharing them in person or via a voice message.
Some of my favorite tools for providing interpreting feedback are:
Audacity, a free tool that's ideal for analyzing dual-track audio (You'll find a description and demo video in this blog post on Using Audacity and the UN Digital Recordings Portal for interpreting practice.)
SoundCloud, to provide time-stamped written comments on an audio recording,
Dropbox Replay, to add time-stamped written comments to audio or video - including in real time, and
GoReact, where you can even add audio and video feedback. (Check out a description and video in this blog post, Get feedback and practice simultaneous online.)
But as we'll see in a moment, pairing an automatic transcription with an audio or video file lets you take it up a notch.
Automatic transcription in 35+ languages with Sonix
Being the geek I am, I've tried dozens of automatic transcription tools. Descript is incredible for editing video like text, and Maestra’s Web Captioner offers high-quality, live machine transcription in a wide range of languages.
For a Descript deep-dive, check out this insiders webinar.
Here are a few reasons why Sonix is my go-to tool for automatic transcription and subtitling.
First, it's incredibly easy to use. Drag and drop an audio or video file (in 40+ supported file types) into Sonix, select the language (35+ are available), and click “Transcribe.” Your transcription will be ready in just a few minutes.
(You can also pair Sonix with Zoom, Google Drive, or Dropbox to automatically import recordings, or pop in a link from YouTube. Plus, you can improve transcription quality by adding subject-specific vocabulary to a custom dictionary.)
Second, Sonix offers a user-friendly web-based interface. Click “Play,” and you'll see the words in the transcription highlighted in real-time as you listen to the audio. Click on a specific word to jump to that spot in the recording. It's that simple.
Third, it's easy to share a file with view-only or editing permissions - perfect for requesting feedback from a colleague. (You can also share highlights, subtitles, or a clip, or download your transcription.)
I've found that Sonix offers some of the highest-quality transcription on the market in a wide variety of languages. (In addition to working well with European languages, my students have reported excellent transcription in languages like Arabic, Chinese and Japanese.) I regularly use Sonix to generate subtitles and shave time off transcription work, and appreciate the pay-as-you-go model and reasonable pricing. Plus, your first 30 minutes are free!
How to use Sonix to provide interpreting feedback
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I put together a three-minute video showcasing how I use Sonix for interpreting practice.
Here are seven of my favorite ways to use Sonix for providing feedback:
Click on any word in the transcription to hear the audio at that point in the recording.
Click Play on the recording and watch Sonix highlight the words in the transcription.
Highlight a word or phrase you'd like to zero in on.
Highlight in different colors to “code” the transcript. (For example, yellow = pacing, red = delivery, blue = filler words, etc.) Use these color codes to identify overarching patterns and provide targeted feedback.
Use the “sticky notes” to provide more detailed, written, time-coded feedback.
Scan through the transcription to identify filler words, unclear pronunciation, or grammatical mistakes.
Share a Sonix file with a colleague and they can see your feedback - or add their own suggestions!
Ready to take Sonix for a spin?
I've put together a mini-challenge to walk you through setting up Sonix, uploading a speech, automatically transcribing, analyzing your work, and providing time-coded feedback.
The best part: You can master this technique in under 30 minutes - including the time you spend practicing interpreting and assessing your work!
What are you waiting for? Grab the free mini-challenge and learn to transcribe and analyze your interpretation with Sonix.