Developing An E-learning Course For Localization

By Author: dtplabs
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Developing an e-Learning course for localization

MNC’s have offices in multiple countries, and rely on localized e-Learning content to maintain the company’s missions and values, regardless of which part of the world their stakeholders are on. It is time-consuming to develop a course with the intention of localizing it for various locales. As the probability of the content being ‘lost in translation’ is high, it is crucial that the development of the e-Learning course is done keeping localization in view. Here are some significant focuses for structuring an eLearning for better localization:
A. Plan Ahead
This is the most fundamental point for considering localization as getting ready can save you from costly and extended efforts that can be avoided. While you may choose to develop the course in your local language, with relevant pictures and case studies, keep in mind how they will appear when localized. Attempt to make a course that isn't focused on one specific locale, or where this appears to be proper, rather take into consideration it’s adaptability into a different languages. Remember that ...
... particular pictures or recordings with inserted content may not be anything but difficult to change later!

B. Make use of professional translators
Language plays such a huge role in conveying specific meanings, and when it comes to lessons, there should be no cutting corners if you want to see operative results. It may seem like a wise idea to cut costs by making use of multilingual personnel or online translating tools, but the art of translation is a profession for a reason; to ensure the exact same meaning can be understood in multiple languages. One don’t want to leave your learner confused or confused by linguistic mistakes.
C. Design space for different languages.
Translating separately, one of the most difficult tasks falls into the hands of the e-learning Expert, as they need to take into account appropriate color schemes, fonts, text size and interface. Additionally, areas allocated for text may need modifying depending on the language used. For instance, Chinese and Korean characters using the same font size as English characters are narrower in nature, using less screen space. Yet, French, Portuguese, German and Italian translations may take up much more screen space due to word length. Effort to find a happy medium, or allow for easy change that doesn’t impact neighboring elements.
D. Finalise in one language before localizing
It may be attractive to plan so far ahead that you try to cover all languages at the time of finalising course development, however this can potentially turn out to be a nightmare! Imagine your SME informing you of an error that then needs to be rewritten in 5 different languages, or a problem that has now been copied over to several different courses. Flawless one course in a chosen language before localizing in others.

Bottom-line:
Once you’ve achieved an effective and appealing eLearning experience for your brand, the benefits of localization can help your course reach a wide-ranging of audience, build and maintain reliable results for your client, and strengthen the company as a single global unit.