How to Obtain a YouTube Video Transcript: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Getting the transcript for a YouTube video can be highly beneficial for various purposes, such as creating captions, summarizing content, or conducting detailed analysis. Here’s a detailed guide on how to obtain the transcript for any YouTube video.

Step 1: Open the YouTube Video

1. Navigate to YouTube: Open your preferred web browser and go to YouTube.

2. Search for the Video: Use the search bar at the top to find the video for which you want the transcript.

3. Open the Video: Click on the video thumbnail or title to open it.

Step 2: Access the Transcript Feature

1. Pause the Video: Working with the transcript feature is easier if the video is paused. Click the pause button or press the spacebar to pause the video.

2. Click on the Three Dots: Below the video, next to the like, dislike, and share buttons, you will see three vertical dots (also known as the ‘More options’ button). Click on these three dots.

Step 3: View Transcript

1. Select ‘Show Transcript’: In the dropdown menu that appears after clicking the three dots, select the option that says ‘Show transcript’. This will open a transcript panel on the right side of the video.

2. View the Transcript: The transcript will be displayed in a panel next to the video. Each line of the transcript is time-stamped, showing when it appears in the video.

Step 4: Copy the Transcript

1. Expand the Transcript (if needed): Sometimes, the transcript panel might show only a portion of the text. If there is a scrollbar, scroll through to view the entire transcript.

2. Highlight the Text: Click and drag your mouse to highlight the text of the transcript. Start from the beginning and drag down to the end.

3. Copy the Text: Once the text is highlighted, right-click and select ‘Copy’ from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac) to copy the text.

Step 5: Paste the Transcript

1. Open a Text Editor: Open any text editor or word processing software where you want to save the transcript. Examples include Notepad, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.

2. Paste the Text: Right-click in the text editor and select ‘Paste’ from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac) to paste the text.

3. Save the Document: Save the document with an appropriate name and location on your computer.

Additional Tips

Language Options: If the video has subtitles in multiple languages, you can select the desired language from the transcript panel. There is a dropdown menu at the top of the transcript panel where you can choose the language.

Turn Off Timestamps: If you do not need the timestamps, you can turn them off by clicking the three vertical dots in the transcript panel and selecting ‘Toggle timestamps’.

Using Third-Party Tools: For videos without transcripts or for more advanced features, consider using third-party tools and software like transcription services that can automatically generate transcripts from video URLs.



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ETS and Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) Join Forces to Scale Skills Transcript

mastery transcript consortium

ETS and MTC have joined forces to enhance skills assessment and learning records for learners.

The ETS & MTC partnership aims to shift focus from courses and grades to personalized learning experiences and skills transcripts for all learners. This collaboration is a significant step towards capturing and communicating capabilities more descriptively at scale. It provides a pathway to replace traditional transcripts with competency-based records for learners applying to colleges and jobs.