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VOICE ACTING What Makes A Great eLearning Narrator?Acting The Part Of The 'Subject Matter Expert'  By Kim HandysidesVoice Actor & Coach When you learn something new the most important muscle you're using is your intellect, correct? Well, yes and no…. Your emotional connection is as
important to your learning. Think back to when you were a kid in school.
Do you remember your favorite teacher? Why did you like them so much?
What makes them stand out in your memory? Chances are it wasn't because
they brought Twinkies to the classroom, but rather it was because they
were passionate about the subject they were sharing and about you
learning it. They probably made it fun – and encouraged you to love it
as much as they did. Passion. Emotion. Excitement. These are the
elements of great teaching, and therefore great eLearning narration. UNDERSTAND THE GENRE First, I have to say, a rocking eLearning narrator
has a solid understanding of the various types of eLearning. They've
learned about what gamification is because learning is easier when fun
and games are employed. They have a solid foundation in storytelling
and trends like podcasting and how they impact learning. They also have
at least a fundamental understanding of how eLearning is delivered – the
software, platforms and delivery mechanisms of getting education to a
screen in front of a student or employee. Knowing about how the information is
being delivered then informs their acting. For me, depending on the
subject, target, and goals, my voice over choices range from friendly,
quirky and conversational to professional, genuine and medical, to name
just a few. And understanding where eLearning is being used, from academic institutions to the corporate world, can help you find out where you fit in best. YOU ARE THE EXPERT The Subject
Matter Expert is just that – an expert – and is inherently passionate about
their topic. They look at the world through their particular lens. The
medical doc sees it from her perspective, the historian from his, the
compliance expert from theirs. As you become an expert in something,
everything that you encounter - from the food you eat, to the media you
consume, the people you interact with, and the hobbies you engage in - are
filtered through the lens of your expertise. The professional voice actor knows
this, and takes on this role when narrating eLearning. So when a spec
comes
in with the words "the material is dry, please do your best to make it
engaging" it's my favorite type of work. Because I know that this
material, though dry to others, is very exciting to whoever was
consulted (as the SME) – and it is their voice that the voice actor needs to inspire to bring it to life and engage with the learner. PERFORM, NOT READ Great voice over narration is not just reading – it's performance.
Which finally leads me to
ta-dah…performance. An office clerk with a "nice" voice
is not going to be able to do near the job of a professional voice over
actor, because great voice over is not about reading words on a page.
It's about performance. Which means connecting with the text, knowing
what's important to get across and what's extraneous. When you are
explaining how to do something – butter toast for example – and you're
showing your kid – the words you use are in perfect sequence with the
right cadence, rhythm and emphasis on certain words to be able to
transfer this knowledge to Junior. Easy, right? That's because they are your words. When you are reading someone else's
words it's not so simple. Making them sound like your own requires a
different skill set. KNOW YOUR ROLE It requires knowing the role you're playing and
understanding and connecting with the person you're talking to. And
though it's true of all eLearning narration that you need to sound like
you know what you're talking about, in more specialized eLearning narration areas,
you are going to need to speak to people with highly advanced degrees
and experience, and they need to trust that they are learning from a
"peer." There
is a specific skill set eLearning narrators must master.
Because good narration is good
storytelling. And good storytelling is good acting. Not just
understanding the words being read, but getting into the head of the
SME, being the
SME, truly acting the part, is essential. Don't get me wrong, you also
have to have consistent sound, be able to read accurately, analyze the
text and understand the vocabulary - and be able to embody your role
(teacher? manager? character?) and connect with the listener. ----------------- ABOUT KIM Kim Handysides is a top voice over artist in commercials, eLearning and narration. With a background in theatre and film and a thorough grounding in radio and television, she's a 2019 Voice Arts Awards winner and five-time nominee, and "loves sharing advice, tips and experience with anyone who asks." She is also a voice over coach, offering private coaching and group study classes - and loves dogs, mountains, beaches and story. |
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