A leading global EdTech platform offering STEM, business, and professional development courses was struggling with a growing problem: learners were not completing courses. Students frequently complained about unclear explanations, misunderstood terminology, and videos that were difficult to follow — especially in multilingual markets. This EdTech subtitling case study highlights how these challenges stemmed from inaccurate and inconsistent subtitles.
With more than 1,200+ hours of video content uploaded every month, the brand needed subtitles that were not only accurate but also context-sensitive and scalable.
That’s where VerboLabs stepped in.
The Challenge
The EdTech platform’s subtitling issues were not surface-level — they directly impacted learning outcomes, engagement, and global expansion.
They needed subtitles that were:
- Accurate enough for technical and industry-specific content
- Localized for Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Mandarin
- Delivered quickly to keep up with monthly course launches
Their pain points reflected the core weaknesses of typical subtitle production workflows.
1. Poor Quality Subtitles Creating Learning Barriers
The brand relied on low-cost, inconsistent subtitling vendors. As a result, the subtitles suffered from typical industry pain points:
Common Subtitling Problems They Faced
- Technical and academic terms mistranslated (e.g., algorithms, derivatives, econometrics)
- Misheard concepts due to varied accents and rapid speech in expert-led lessons
- Incorrect segmentation is causing line breaks mid-sentence, confusing learners
- Inaccurate timing leading to captions appearing too early or too late
- Lack of subject knowledge, especially in STEM-heavy modules
Impact: Students misunderstood complex topics, leading to frustration and lower completion rates — particularly in machine learning, finance, and physics.
2. Low Engagement & High Early Drop-Off
Internal analytics revealed exactly how subtitles were influencing user behavior:
- 48% of learners turned on subtitles immediately
- Yet 33% dropped off within the first 5 minutes
Upon further investigation, the platform discovered why:
- Cluttered captions overlapped visuals
- Inconsistent formatting broke the learning flow
- Verbose, poorly structured subtitles distracted rather than supported
Pain Point: Subtitles meant to improve understanding were instead causing cognitive overload.
3. Multilingual Expansion Delayed by Quality Issues
The platform was preparing to enter six non-English-speaking markets. But they faced major obstacles:
- Inadequate translation of domain-specific terminology
- Mismatched tone and cultural references
- Lack of linguistic alignment across modules
- Prior vendors were unable to handle the bulk volume consistently
Pain Point: In multilingual education, incorrect subtitles don’t just confuse—they damage brand trust in new markets.
The VerboLabs Solution
To solve these problems, VerboLabs delivered a fully human-created subtitling workflow designed for accuracy, clarity, and scalability — specifically engineered for high-stakes educational content.
Step 1: Human-Created Subtitle Drafts From Scratch
Every subtitle file began with a subject-aware linguist—not a machine.
Our subtitlers:
- Listened carefully to capture terminology, formulas, jargon, and examples
- Used domain-specific glossaries to maintain technical consistency
- Ensured clean segmentation and line length for readable subtitles
- Adjusted pacing to match complex explanations
- Captured speaker tone, pauses, and emphasis to preserve meaning
Pain Points Solved:
- No misinterpretation of subject-heavy lessons
- No timing or readability issues
- No dependency on inconsistent automated output
Outcome: High-quality first drafts that already met 90–95% instructional accuracy.
Step 2: Deep Linguistic Editing & Subject-Matter Review
Each file was reviewed by senior linguists with experience in technical, academic, and educational content.
This stage ensured:
- Precision in STEM, finance, and data subjects
- Correct usage of discipline-specific vocabulary
- Cultural relevance for global learners
- Consistent terminology across entire course playlists
- Formatting that supports long-form learning
Editors also restructured subtitles for clarity:
- Fixed awkward phrasing
- Shortened long lines
- Split sentences for easier comprehension
- Ensured subtitles didn’t obscure diagrams, code, or formulas
Outcome: Subtitle accuracy rose from 82% → 98.7% across modules.
Step 3: Final QC & Platform-Optimized Delivery
A dedicated quality team conducted multi-stage checks, verifying:
- WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance
- Clean timing optimized for mobile learning
- Multi-speaker identification (color-coded where needed)
- Correct rendering across LMS, app, and OTT-style video formats
- Subtitle readability on different screen sizes, including tablets and smartphones
Outcome: Subtitles loaded perfectly and consistently across all platforms—with zero formatting failures.
Results After 60 Days
The improvements were immediate and measurable.
- 62% Increase in Video Engagement
Clear subtitles kept learners focused and improved comprehension for fast-paced subjects.
- 41% Growth in International Enrolments
Localized, accurate subtitles helped the brand confidently expand into new global markets.
- 50% Faster Production Cycles
A human-first but efficient workflow reduced subtitling timelines from 21 days to just 10.
- 37% Drop in Student Complaints
Clarity, accuracy, and pacing improved the learning experience.
- 28% Cost Reduction
The streamlined human-only subtitling model proved more cost-effective than their previous vendor mix.
Why the Human-Only Workflow Worked
VerboLabs succeeded because we addressed the real subtitling issues most EdTech platforms face:
- Inconsistent technical terminology
- Incorrect timing that breaks the learning flow
- Poor segmentation is harming readability
- Cultural misunderstandings in multilingual courses
- Format compatibility issues across multiple platforms
- Lack of subject-specialized subtitlers
With:
- Expert linguists
- Subject matter alignment
- Deep linguistic editing
- Robust quality control
- 120+ language capability
VerboLabs became the perfect partner for an EdTech brand requiring accuracy, reliability, and global scalability.
Client Testimonial
“VerboLabs transformed our content delivery. The accuracy in technical subjects improved dramatically. Our learners now rely on subtitles—not because they need them, but because they enhance learning.”
— Head of Learning Experience, Global EdTech Brand
Why VerboLabs Stands Out
VerboLabs provides professional subtitling services that are precise, STEM & academic-ready, optimized for any device, and built with strict QA and accessibility in mind.
- 100% human-created subtitles
- Subject-matter alignment for academic and STEM content
- Multilingual subtitling in 120+ languages
- Platform-ready formats optimized for global learners
- Bulk capacity with strict QA processes
- Accessibility-focused workflows
Conclusion
The EdTech subtitling case study demonstrates how VerboLabs helped a fast-growing EdTech platform transform its learner experience, improve engagement, and expand globally with professional, human-created subtitles.
If you’re an OTT platform, corporate training provider, or EdTech company, your content deserves subtitles built for clarity—not guesswork.
Choose VerboLabs for accurate, human-crafted subtitling services that elevate learning and drive measurable results.
Enhance your learning content with accurate, human-created subtitles. Partner with VerboLabs today.
