E-learning has evolved at a lightning pace over the last few years; from instructional design methods, to the wealth of content available on e-learning modules, the changes have been monumental, and have, in turn, led to the requirement to provide e-learning for a worldwide audience.
This audience often includes non-native speaking learners, meaning companies are required to translate modules, content, or instructional videos for multi-lingual viewers. This translation, or localization, process can be complicated and time-consuming, with different considerations dependent upon cultures, project objectives, and target audiences.
To ensure your e-learning project is accessible to all potential viewers, there are some fundamental considerations that should be deliberated before embarking on your project. For example, is localization a superior option to translation? And, how can you encompass learner difference?
The following information will assist you in choosing the best route for your e-learning projects, and offer the best chance of success.
Translation or Localization?
Basic translation involves translating text, or audio content, from one language to another, while retaining the meaning of the original script.
Localization is the process of adapting the whole content to suit a specific culture, country, or people. It involves more than just a translation of words, as it targets specific cultural differences to ensure that your project will be suitable for your target audience.
Localization is more in-depth, and therefore, you should expect a longer process than with purely translation services, however, localization would guarantee your project is applicable to each specific location.
Knowing which to select for your project is essential before you begin to plan content.
Plan Content for Localization or Translation
Early planning saves time and money on lengthy rewrites, reorganising content to fit in case of text expansion, or contraction, and also, allows for uniformity of visual appearance.
Lexical choices in original content may need to alter to reflect cultural differences, so early planning for translation with your target audience in mind, will allow you to regulate your content from the outset. Remember, meaning and significance of words vary from one country to another, the same goes for idioms, and phrases.
Translating from an original English source to another language is the usual route, but be aware that writing with many target languages in mind might affect the style of writing, and brand voice can be lost when attempting to cover too many languages. If you are planning to translate into multiple languages, localization would offer a safer alternative to translation.
Localizing for your Learner
Creating e-learning courses that appeal to everyone, from every culture, is almost impossible, but there are a number of things you can do to facilitate this process:
• Research – know your audience, understand their requirements, and reasons for enrolling on your e-learning course.
• Module purpose – be clear about what you are offering, how it will be used, and what purpose it should serve for the learner.
• Delivery – know how your finished project will be delivered to the end user. If it is used by multiple learners (for example, in schools or workplaces), there are likely to be differences in content than if it is used by individual learners from the comfort of their home.
Knowing your target audience will allow you to design content that is accessible to them – localization will help with images, formatting, colour, text, and so on. For example, if you plan to release your e-learning modules in the Middle East you should consider the use of character gender, the use of women in videos, images, and so on, should be avoided. Colour choice is also highly relevant in the Middle East – green is the colour of Islam, and should not be used out of context as offence could be taken by your audience.
Development for Localization
Graphics, Videos, and Vlogs have become hugely marketable in e-learning, and are a fantastic way of explaining concepts, expressing an idea, or highlighting how something should be done.
If you are trying to convey a concept to your audience, consider using visual images to express your message. This cuts down on text usage, and can reduce translation costs, but bear in mind that cultural issues must still be considered.
In-country teams should check any content before release, with native speakers used to validate the quality of translation where available.
Most professional translation providers will offer a native speaking translator, and editor, to check your finished content.
Creating e-learning materials for multi-lingual audiences is an exciting challenge, and can be extremely rewarding when completed with success.
Professional translation teams will ensure your project is bespoke, and tailored to your audience, wherever they are based, giving you a unique, and effective e-learning venture.
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