Meet Jessie, who recently developed a seminar for their company. It’s been really successful. Demand has been growing, so they digitised the seminar and created a webinar to reach a wider audience. That was even more popular. What next? They had the webinar translated and localised then made it available to all the international teams in the company. This created an instant reach to employees in other countries and languages, giving everyone in the organisation a consistent online e-learning experience.
What makes e-learning so effective?
In the last few years, e-learning (short for electronic learning) has become an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional classroom – especially in professional development. This important tool lets us study anytime and anywhere, without being tied to a specific schedule or location. Students and trainees can even decide how they want to learn and set their own pace. They can choose from a huge range of interactive learning materials, videos, simulations and web-based exercises.
Localised e-learning
Electronic learning, virtual training and online courses have opened up a wealth of new possibilities in education and employee training. People around the world are now sharing knowledge and collaborating together more than ever before. One element that underpins everything is e-learning localisation. And when it comes to localising e-learning materials – technology and language go hand in hand.
Three reasons to have your e-training materials translated
It guarantees the best possible online learning experience: Accurate, top quality e-learning content
In the world of online education, precision is the key to success. Every letter, word and sentence counts. Quality is the top priority when translating e-learning materials. And it’s not just online language classes that need to be accurate. Imagine you’re taking an online course in photography. You’re watching a video on how to set up your camera, but the subtitles are rather vague – and at times they even contradict each other – leaving you confused about what you should be doing. Are you likely to take another online course with this provider or recommend them to a friend? No. An inaccurate translation will make a student’s e-learning experience frustrating, especially if crucial details and technical terms get “lost in translation”. This has an enormous impact on your e-learners’ understanding and prevent them from effectively applying what they’ve learned. Instead, online materials need to have high quality, accurate translations. This is essential to ensure the best possible learning experience and to unlock the full potential of e-learning.
Your content will resonate and won’t offend: Cultural sensitivity & e-learning localisation
Internet-based training is a fantastic way to reach people across the globe. This also means addressing groups of people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In our diverse world, it’s extremely important to be culturally sensitive and inclusive. E-learning content needs to be reviewed – and modified – so that it’s culturally appropriate and relevant. This process is known as e-learning localisation. Cultural sensitivity is essential for creating an inclusive online learning environment that respects and values the diversity of all learners. A well-localised translation will help all your trainees feel welcome and respected in your virtual classroom. This applies to all content that your students or trainees will see. Educational software, for example, often requires cultural and linguistic adaptations before it can be used internationally. The same is true for online presentations. Did you know that even pictures, symbols, graphics and colours can mean different things depending on where they are used? For instance, a thumbs up is a positive gesture in many parts of the world, but in some cultures it’s the equivalent of the western middle finger! The potential pitfalls are rife, and nobody can be expected to know everything. Except, that is, translation and localisation experts. A translator knows about these differences and, where necessary, will suggest alternative images or graphics that convey the right message. In the same way, common expressions and cultural references may have a different meaning in another language or culture. Here again, specialist translators have the cultural knowledge and awareness to adapt the translation, make sure it’s appropriate and avoid misunderstandings. E-learning translations present several challenges that all need to be tackled at the same time. They include overcoming cultural barriers while ensuring the content is correct, appropriate, well written and easy to understand for an international audience. And it’s not just about the linguistics. Cultural diversity needs to be considered at every stage in the design, development and delivery of e-learning content.
It ensures consistent training and minimises costs: Company-wide e-learning localisation
It’s not just international learners who benefit from e-learning translations. By internationalising their online materials, companies and organisations benefit just as much. It strengthens the company’s international market presence by increasing its reach and global visibility. This is particularly beneficial for organisations with international locations or remote teams, as it keeps employee training programmes consistent and uniform across the globe. Cost reduction also plays a crucial role. Localised e-learning reduces the cost of training people all over the world. You can create content once and use it for multiple languages, thereby minimising the cost of multiple training courses in different countries. E-learning takes different forms, depending on the purpose. The e-learning content we translate includes:
- Onboarding materials
- Online training courses
- Webinars
- Video content
- Training materials
- Presentations
- Employee training
Would you like to know more about e-learning and localisation? Contact us to make sure your online courses and e-learning content are understood in every language.
Request a consultation today!