0717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration

2022.12.18 – 0717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration

Your e-learning voice

You will be the ‘brand voice’ of the product or service, so you will reflect those values as well as those of the target demographic.

Pace - Almost by definition, the information being presented is new and may also be complex. Viewers may also have English as their second language. Having said that, be guided by the content and the visuals. Explaining new procedures over a fast-paced soundtrack over quick cuts of F1 drivers may well need a pacier delivery than that featuring new techniques to protect sea turtles.  The most important technique to apply is that you allow each different piece of information appropriate time to be absorbed or understood by your audience.

Tone – although the information is new, you must be careful not to sound patronising. Channel the emotion of a trusted guide who understands the content and wants to pass on knowledge and useful information, rather than that of a teacher who is ‘telling’ facts to an audience: you are less standing over someone’s shoulder wagging a finger as they learn, and more sitting beside them and holding their hand.

The relationship you have with the listener is hugely important and as people often watch these modules by themselves your tone needs to be more personal than that of a commercial read.

Consider for example the tone of a read about ‘history’ or ‘the future’, and whether the content is training or inspiring – all will have different tones. A good style is one that is conversational and energetic, engaging but with an element of authority.

You need to be able to present what could be dry material, for people who need to know and others who (perhaps in a ‘captive’ workplace) are disinterested but compelled to watch, so avoid the robotic ‘mono-tone drone zone’. It’s not just about having a nice voice but being able to explain content well, with a sense of context and understanding.

With some more formal, corporate reads, you may have to present every single word as it is written: that words such as “to” are pronounced “to” rather than “ter” (“you have got to ensure that…” rather than “gotta”) and similarly with “for”, and not “fer” (“for more information…”)

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