Utilizing subtitles in multiple languages to facilitate second-language learning

Abstract

Processing video for utilization in second language learning is described herein. A video file includes spoken words in a source language, subtitles in the source language, and subtitles in a native language of an end user (a target language). The subtitles in the source language are synchronized with the spoken words in the video, and the subtitles in the source language are mapped to the subtitles in the target language. Both sets of subtitles are displayed simultaneously as the video is played by the end user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a request for a video file, the video file comprising:
 audible words in a source language; 
 subtitles in the source language that are synchronized in time with the audible words in the source language, the subtitles segmented into a plurality of source language segments, a source language segment comprising a plurality of source language words; and 
 subtitles in a target language, the subtitles in the target language segmented into a plurality of target language segments, a target language segment comprising a plurality of target language words, the source language segment mapped to the target language segment, and words in the source language segment mapped to respective words in the target language segment; and 
   streaming the video file to a client computing device responsive to receipt of the request, wherein when video corresponding to the video file is played at the client computing device, the source language segment and the target language segment are displayed concurrently as corresponding words in the audible words are emitted.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video file is configured for receipt and playback in a browser of the client computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving login credentials from the client computing device; and   streaming the video file to the client computing device responsive to receipt of the login credentials.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subtitles in the target language are synchronized in time with the audible words in the source language. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a single word in the source language segment is mapped to multiple words in the target language segment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein multiple words in the source language segment are mapped to a single word in the target language segment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video file is configured to support interaction with the subtitles in the target language. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the video file comprises definitions of respective words in the subtitles in the target language, the definitions being in the source language, wherein the video file is configured to present a definition in the source language responsive to a selection of word in the subtitles in the target language. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video file is configured to playback on a portable telephone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of source language segments are a respective plurality of sentences in the source language, and the plurality of target language sentences are a respective plurality of sentences in the target language. 
     
     
         11 . A server computing device, comprising:
 computer-readable storage that comprises a video file, the video file comprising:
 an audio portion that comprises audible words in a source language; 
 a video portion that comprises:
 first subtitles in the source language that are synchronized in time with the audible words, the first subtitles segmented into a plurality of source language segments, a source language segment comprising a plurality of words in the source language; and 
 second subtitles in a target language, the second subtitles being translations of the first subtitles, the second subtitles segmented into a plurality of target language segments, a target language segment comprising a plurality of words in the target language, wherein the plurality of source language segments are respectively mapped to the plurality of target language segments, and the plurality of words in the target language segment are respectively aligned with the plurality of words in the source language segment; 
 
   a receiver component that receives a request for the video file from a client computing device; and   a transmitter component that, responsive to the receiver component receiving the request, streams the video file to the client computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein when the video is played at the client computing device, when an audible word is output, a corresponding word in the target language segment is highlighted and a corresponding word in the source language segment is highlighted. 
     
     
         13 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , the video file further comprising at least one definition for at least one word in the first subtitles, wherein the definition is in the target language. 
     
     
         14 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of source language segments are a respective plurality of sentences in the source language, and the plurality of target language segments are a respective plurality of sentences in the target language. 
     
     
         15 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the video file comprises third subtitles in a third language, wherein the request from the client computing device specifies the target language, and the third subtitles are failed to be streamed to the client computing device based upon the request for the video file from the client computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein a single word in the source language segment is aligned with multiple words in the target language segment. 
     
     
         17 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein multiples words in the source language segment are aligned with a single word in the target language segment. 
     
     
         18 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the video file is configured to support interaction with the subtitles in the target language. 
     
     
         19 . The server computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the video file is streamed to the client computing device responsive to receiving login credentials by way of a web browser. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 receiving login credentials from a client computing device;   subsequent to receiving the login credentials, receiving a selection of a video file from the client computing device, the video file comprising:
 an audio portion that comprises audible words in a source language; 
 a video portion that comprises:
 source language subtitles that are synchronized in time with the audible words, the source language subtitles segmented into a plurality of source language segments, a source language segment comprising a plurality of words in the source language; and 
 target language subtitles, the target language subtitles being translations of the source language subtitles in a target language, the target language subtitles segmented into a plurality of target language segments, a target language segment comprising a plurality of words in the target language that are respective translations of the plurality of words in the source language, wherein the source language segments are respectively mapped to the target language segments, and words in the source language segment are aligned with corresponding words in the target language segment; 
 
   responsive to receiving the selection of the video file, streaming the video file to the client computing device, wherein the audio portion and the video portion of the video file are synchronized such that when the video file is played at the client computing device, the source language segment and the target language segment are displayed synchronously while corresponding words in the audible words are output.