Continuous Evaluation Activities. Ingles II para Turismo (UNED)

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION TASKS

Check the indications for each TASK!

Machu Picchu

THE SELF EVALUATIONS The self evaluations are optional, but very recommendable to check your progress. Go the Quiz (CUESTIONARIOS) section in ALF to do them (CHECK THE CALENDAR FOR THIS!)

THE BLOG Take a look at the course blog and comment on any of the entries you find interesting. If you comment on the blog itself I will get a notification, but you can also post a copy of your comment here. Also, as in previous years, I would also like to invite you to prepare some entry for the blog, which can be related to any personal traveling experience, a destiny, a hotel management conversation...both in video or written format. You can check in the blog what other students have previously done. The idea is: you send here the post, I revise it, and then I post it on your name (if you like) or under a pseudonym (or anonymously). Then, other students or the public in general can comment on them. Any of these two optional activities will be positively taken into consideration for the final mark.

PEC – TASKS TASK II (2/0 Points): Recording your ADS (while you watch the video) Instructions: You have to record the written description yourself and send it to ALF (TASK 2) (as an attached mp3, or any other format that can be reproduced, or as a link to your audio). You can also record yourself with AVIP itself. Remember that the AD has to fit the timing of the events that happen in the clip. For this reason, try to record your ADS while you are playing the video. Pay attention: You may notice that you will have to repeat your recording several times, it is normal! Just upload your last version in the format permitted by the ALF platform.

INSTRUCTIONS

WHAT IS AD?

EXAMPLE

TUTORIAL TO DO THE PECs

ALL ABOUT THE WRITTEN AND ORAL TASKS

PEC GUIDELINES This PEC has two tasks concerning Audio Description (AD). The first one is written, and it counts up to 4 or 2 points of the final mark), and the second one is optional and it counts up to 2 or 0 points of the final mark). This will depend on you (check the guide for more information, and this same presentation. In order to complete them, you need to, first of all, read some guidelines to know how to develop your AD. Particular instructions for your own AD are given on page 5 below. Instructions: For PEC 1, write a script as many times as you need. For PEC 2, You have to record the written description yourself and send it to ALF (TASK 2) (as an attached mp3, or any other format that can be reproduced, or as a link to your audio). You can also record yourself with AVIP itself. Remember that the AD has to fit the timing of the events that happen in the clip. For this reason, try to record your ADS while you are playing the video. Pay attention: You may notice that you will have to repeat your recording several times, it is normal! Just upload your last version in the format permitted by the ALF platform.

Introduction to AUDIO DESCRIPTION 1.1. What is audio description? Audio description is a mode of audiovisual translation (AVT), an intersemiotic, cross-modal or multi-modal translation activity that involves translating images into words. While a scriptwriter converts a text (a script) into images, the audio descriptor allows identifying parts from the images and turns them into a text that is spoken or read aloud in the pauses of the monologue (narrations) or between the dialogues. Following this definition, AD consists of techniques and skills that are applied in order to compensate for the lack of capturing the visual part contained in any type of message, providing adequate sound information. This application would be very useful, for example, for the visually impaired receiver who would perceive this message in the most similar way to how it is perceived by a person who does not suffer a visual disability. 1.2. For whom is it done and where? AD as a mode of audiovisual translation, verbalizes the visual information that is needed to fully understand and enjoy the message that is being communicated. It was first created to meet the needs of the blind and visual impaired people, as mentioned above. In addition, it soon proved to be also beneficial for sighted people. Translators in general are seen as mediators, not only linguistically speaking but also culturally, since language and culture are mutually interdependent. Therefore, audio describers address all types of users, including foreign language students. 1.3. How does it work? Main techniques The creation of an AD requires the collaboration of multiple professionals: a writer, a voice actor and a sound technician. After the viewing (even a blind viewing is recommended) and analyzing the source material (in order to focus only on the relevant information), the audio describer has to look for the natural pauses in the narration or dialogues and time the intervals, where the descriptions of the visual clues can be inserted for the target audience who have no access to it. These intervals are normally very restricted in time: A ratio of more or less 180 words per minute). Once the writing of the audio description script (ADS) is finished, it can be read aloud while viewing the document, which is extremely useful. Depending on the nature of the product, an audio description can be rendered recorded (products on screen, or on an audio guide) and live, or semi-live, in the case of live events (theatre, opera, musicals, ballet, sports, congresses, press conference, etc.) by reading aloud an audio description script (an ADS) or even improvising (in the case of stage performances), when the audio writer describes orally what he sees. It is normally rendered in the same language of the audiovisual product. In the case of subtitled films, it can be combined with audio subtitles (AST). When an introduction to the product is required, AD can be combined with an audio introduction (AI). 1.4. The Audio Description Script (ADS) The main objective of an AD is to give the target audience the information to which for one reason or another they have no access to it, so that they can fully enjoy or grasp the context of an audiovisual product. It also pretends to be a pleasant experience that avoids overburdening their information-processing capacities. Audio describers are asked to describe what they see, a highly subjective activity since it is mostly based on their own interpretation. Finding balance between a personal interpretation and formulation, on the one hand, and a more text based interpretation, on the other hand, is a big challenge. According to good practices, the focus of the descriptions has to be on the scenery (place and time), the physical attributes of the characters (age, ethnical group, appearance, outfit, facial expressions, body language…) as well as their emotional state, and the actions (perception and movements). Given the lack of time, the descriptions must be precise, using very specific and accurate single words and multiword units to evoke the space, the time, objects, characters and actions. Depending on the photographic composition, larger elements are described before smaller ones, and moving elements before static ones. The chain of actions is mostly captured through syntactic and discursive focusing mechanisms in the audio described text. Nevertheless, all information given by the aural channel can be omitted in AD, so no need to say ‘the phone rings’ or ‘he plays the piano’, or ‘she answers…’. Above all, the AD ultimate goal is to offer a written text to be read aloud. As for the style, it has to be adapted to the genre of the audiovisual document. 1.5 FILM AUDIO DESCRIPTION SCRIPT (ADS) 1.5.1. What is described? 1.5.1.1. The verbal visual elements: The credits. Following national legislations, the credits will be read aloud entirely (mostly at the end) or partially (at the beginning: only the production company, the director, some of the collaborators and the main characters, with the name of the actor or not). Some examples in italics: Walt Disney Pictures presents a Pixar Animation Studios film. (Ratatouille) Illumination Entertainment. (Despicable Me) Twentieth Century Fox presents a Bazmark production. (Moulin Rouge) The title (Some examples in italics): A title appears in white letters against the water’s dark surface, The Revenant. Titles appear: Walt Disney Pictures presents a Pixar Animation Studios film. […] Another title shimmers like the sun’s rays on the ocean surface: Finding Nemo. Moulin Rouge. Inserts (texts, titles, subtitles, inter-titles that appear on screen): Some examples in italics: Place: Paris (Moulin Rouge) Time: 1900 (Moulin Rouge) 1.5.1.2. Non-verbal visual elements: The logo of the production company (Some examples in italics): A computer-animated logo appears and an illuminated desk lamp hops past the word Pixar, than squashes the letter “I”. A subtitle appears: Animation Studios. (Finding Nemo) A fairy tale castle in pale blue and white. White pennons flutter from the pointed turrets. A bright white glows and forms the title “Walt Disney Pictures”. An arch of stardust shoots over the castle. Pixar Animation Studios. Illuminated angle poise lamp bounces into the position of the letter “I” in “Pixar”. An animation. A television floats in space. On its screen the earth revolves. (Ratatouille) A conductor stands in front of a large stage. The golden embossed red velvet curtains are closed behind him. He taps his baton, raises his arms and launches into energetic conducting. The curtains open to reveal the huge 20th Century fox sculpted plate with sweeping spotlights. A News Corporation Company. The curtain closes, and then reopens to reveal a flickering monochrome screen. Twentieth Century Fox presents a Bazmark production. Tall red letters framed by moving silhouettes of men with top hats. A cancan dancer and a window. (Moulin Rouge) A jagged flash of golden light is superimposed on a silver sphere. The logo of Touchstone Pictures. A crescent moon drifting amid clouds is reflected in still water. A fisherman’s float plops onto the surface, creating a ring around it. On the curve of the crescent moon a boy lounges with his fishing rod. The crescent grows into the letter D of DreamWorks. Shafts of orange and yellow light followed by the words ‘participant media’. Followed by ‘imagination Abu Dhabi’ in orange letters. DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment present, in association with Participant Media and Imagination Abu Dhabi: a 1492 Pictures/ Harbinger Pictures production. (The Help) The characters: When the characters appear for the first time, all relevant physical attributes (age, ethnicity, appearance, clothing, facial expression, body language...) should be described. Also when they change looks (a new haircut, a new outfit, …) the description should be precise. Some examples in italics: Birdman: Wearing only white briefs, the shorthaired man faces the window. […] The middle-aged man shuts his laptop. Now wearing a button-front shirt, he looks at his reflection in the mirror. Moulin Rouge: Toulouse Lautrec, with painted, white face and black mascara wears a white ruffle. The Revenant: The white man with straggly shoulder-length hair and a beard approaches. The Help: Minny, in a green straw hat and spotty dress […]. ( The emotional state (positive: joy, courage, serenity, tenderness, joy, love... negative: sadness, discouragement, despondency, anger, fear, hate, pain, worry...) should be formulated succinctly and vividly, without overloading the audience with too many details. Visibly nervous, she pours tea from a white china pot into a china cup, spilling a drop on the saucer. […] Aibileen hastily wipes up the spill in the saucer. (The Help) Nemo approaches nervously. (Finding Nemo) Jimmy, teary-eyed, sits near a cabin clutching his rifle. (The revenant) He casts a thoughtful gaze to the floor. (Birdman) The scenery (Some examples in italics): The spatio-temporal settings require specific attention since they are narrative building blocks, intrinsically linked to the characters. The location can be real or fictional, known or new. Indoors or outdoors. The story can be told chronologically or in flashback and flash forward. A child’s bedroom turned upside-down. (The Help) In a church. (The Help) In a dressing room […]. (Birdman) They pass through a native encampment outside the fort […]. (The Revenant) They pass clumps of colorful plants, arched rock formations and stalks of shark coral with branches like trees. (Finding Nemo) Heavy rain falls on a ramshackle cottage with blue shutters and a terracotta-tiled roof. Inside a yellow flash lights up a window. (Ratatouille) A desert. Sand dunes stretch into the distance. (Despicable Me) The action (Some examples in italics): From the study of audio described scripts (ADS) it appears that the most frequently used words are words related to movement and perception, often in combination with feelings (satisfied look, it leaves angry...). Movement and perception are expressed through verbs (in the third person present indicative present, a' historical present') and feelings through an adjunct preaching (a passive participle). 1.5.2. How is it described? Verbs as "to see," or even “to appear” should be avoided. So, the audio describer does not say: “ we see Jimmy coming down the stairs” or “ a train appears on screen”, but: “Jimmy is coming down the stairs”, “a train is passing through the station without stopping”. No technical terms are used (short plane, fused...). Normally the present time is used (flashbacks and flash-forward excepted). The vocabulary and syntax must be succinct and precise. More info: https://acb.org/adp/movies.html Examples in Youtube: English: Frozen with AD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7j4_aP8dWA Spanish: Paco (con AD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1MPQbcwS_Q Spanish: Amelie (con AD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0pSVQZavBA

What do you know about AD? Test it with this Quiz!

EVALUATION TYPE

What type of evaluation you want? CHOOSE NOW!

EXAM 60%

PECS (ORAL AND WRITTEN)40%

In this way, your written task is 20% and your oral task is 20%

+ info

Fill in this questionnaire to choose for the type of evaluation you want. This will be valid for the whole year (June and September) Loading…

In this way, the final exam is 60% of the final mark

PEC(written) 20%

In this way, the oral task is just optional, but highly recommendable!

+ info

In this way, the exam is 80% of the final mark

EXAM 60%

PECS (ORAL AND WRITTEN)20%

You can decide up until the beginning of the tasks period (mid April), and by then, you will have to fill in the questionnaire selecting your choice.

Doubts? just ask!

That was all!