Typically, commercial DVDs are "region coded," a process where a DVD is encoded for its originating region to maintain control over copyright in international markets. Region coding is a problem for foreign language instructors, who frequently buy DVDs in a foreign country and are unable to use it in the U.S.
OCM does not have any equipment installed in classrooms or any equipment available for loan that is compatible with foreign-formatted media. Our classrooms are equipped to play DVDs from region 1 (U.S.) only.
The ability to play a foreign-formatted DVD would involve a combination of a region-free DVD player, a device to convert the signal to American television standards, and/or a monitor capable of displaying foreign television standards.
More information about playing international DVDs, including how to play a non-region 1 disc, can be found in our DVD/VCR topics FAQ.
PC and Mac users should try using the VideoLAN VLC media player
