If you’re working for an organization that operates internationally, you’re probably creating training for audiences around the world. So, you know firsthand how time-consuming it can be to design and deliver an e-learning course in multiple languages. But it doesn’t have to be! Like any project, the more you plan ahead, the easier it is.
This article will help you identify what you need to know upfront (long before any development begins!) to effectively translate or localize your e-learning and ensure that it resonates across culture and language barriers.
1. Identify your audience
When you’re doing your audience analysis, it’s important to determine not only what your learners know, but also what languages they speak and where in the world they’re based. Their location is important because sometimes, even though learners speak the same language, there may be cultural or regional differences to take into account.
For example, a course developed in Spanish won’t necessarily work for both Mexico and Spain. Why not? In addition to the many linguistic differences between Mexican and Iberic Spanish, there are many regional differences including procedures, laws, technical standards, and currencies.
2. Decide if translation or localization is best for your project
People often use the terms translation and localization interchangeably, but they’re actually two different things:
- Translation is the process of converting text and words from one language to another without making any adaptations.
- Localization is the process of translating and adapting content for a specific culture. It often involves changing not only the text but also imagery, tone, colors, currencies, and more to account for cultural and regional differences.
If your multilingual course is being sent to learners in other countries, simply translating the text is usually not enough. You’ll need to adapt the content to make sense to learners across cultural barriers—not just borders.
Want to explore the issue further before making a decision? Check out this helpful article: Translation vs. Localization: What makes sense for your project?
3. Choose a localization-friendly authoring tool
Another important consideration for multi-language training is the authoring tool. It’s important to choose one that makes the localization process easier, not harder. Here are some key features to prioritize as you’re selecting a tool:
- Integrated AI translation, so you can translate courses instantly without the hassle of exporting a translation file, sending it to a translator or a separate AI translation provider, and importing it back into your project.
- Right-to-left support. If you’re translating into languages like Arabic, Hebrew, or Farsi that are read from right-to-left, make sure your authoring tool makes it easy not only to translate into these languages, but also to adapt the course layout for an optimal learner experience.
- Integrated language validation, so you can easily vet course translations with a trusted language expert and make sure translations are accurate, culturally fitting, and appropriate for the target audience.
- Multi-language course packages, so you only have one course to manage and publish—no matter how many languages you’re working with.
If you’re an Articulate 360 subscriber, good news: All of these features are at your fingertips! Contact your admin about starting a free trial of Articulate Localization. And if you’re new to Articulate 360, contact us to learn more.
4. Decide if you’ll include audio or not
Another thing to think about is whether or not you should include audio in your course. If you do, you’ll need to consider your options for localization, like:
- Adding subtitles to bridge the gap between languages without having to update audio files or resynchronize animations.
- Generating text-to-speech audio to provide a more localized experience for international learners without spending too much time and money. And with Articulate 360, you can generate text-to-speech without leaving your authoring tool.
- Recording voice-over audio to provide a top-notch learning experience for learners in all languages. Remember that if you choose this option, you’ll need to recruit voice actors for each language, which can be time-consuming and cost-intensive.
5. Decide how to translate your course
There are a few different options for translating your course. The most common ones are:
- AI translation. This is by far the fastest option, allowing for an almost immediate turnaround. That said, if you go this route, you should still plan to ask a trusted language validator to fine-tune the translation for nuance and cultural references. Articulate 360 makes this option even faster with our integrated AI translation feature, which lets you convert your course into 70+ languages with a single click. Find out more about Articulate Localization here.
- Language service providers (LSPs) or translation agencies. The main advantage of this option is that they manage the entire translation process for you—including recording voice-over audio in different languages, in many cases. However, despite being the most expensive choice, the quality is often the same or only marginally better than AI translation. For this reason, you should still plan to incorporate a round of language validation if you go with this approach.
- Freelance translators. When you work directly with translators, the translation quality tends to be higher, and their price is often more affordable. The trade-off is that it can be harder to find a freelance resource and that you’ll need to factor in the time it takes you to manage each translator separately. Not to mention that you’ll also need to source and manage any voice-over professionals if you decide to include localized audio. This can add a substantial amount of work to your plate!
- In-house translators. If you have a co-worker who’s a first-language speaker of the language you’re translating into and is fluent in the original course language, you could ask them to help out. The advantage of this option is that they likely have a better understanding of the subject matter than AI, an LSP, or a freelance translator. However, since translation isn’t their main job, they might find it difficult and/or time-consuming, which could delay your project.
Not sure which option is best for your project? Head over to this article for more information: How Articulate Localization Stacks Up to Your LSP or TMS.
6. Decide how to validate translation accuracy
No matter how you translate your course, it’s important to identify the right language validators who can make sure nothing gets lost in translation.
Language validators can be members of the project team, other coworkers, or, in some cases, professional translators. Ideally, each language validator should be:
- A first-language speaker of the language you’re translating into.
- Fluent in the original course language so they can compare the translations to the original text.
- A good writer and speller in the target language who can catch spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors.
- Familiar with the subject matter so they can ensure specific terms and concepts are translated correctly.
Have more questions about getting accurate translations? We have an informative article for you: Discover the Secret To High-Quality Multi-Language E-Learning. Check it out!
7. Plan to get your course approved before you localize
When you’re building a course that needs to be translated into many different languages, it can be tempting to try to build them all in tandem in an effort to save time. However, paradoxically, this typically ends up requiring a lot of rework and ultimately taking much longer.
For instance, imagine a subject matter expert asking you to change two paragraphs in your course. It’s a lot easier (and more cost-effective!) to do it in one language than in five different languages.
For this reason, it’s best to design, develop, and get approval on your course in one language before localizing the course into other languages.
8. Plan extra time for development and testing
It might seem obvious, but you’re going to need more development time when you’re building a course in multiple languages. In addition to developing the course in the first language, you’ll need time to adapt it to every other language, which will include development, testing, and review steps. Make sure to allow for this extra time in your project plans and timelines.
Wrap-up
Upfront planning will eliminate many headaches and help ensure a smoother process and better end result. By following the tips outlined in this article, you’ll be setting yourself up for localization success. Did we miss any big ones that you find especially helpful? Share in the comments!
Feeling overwhelmed by course localization? Don’t worry! Articulate Localization makes it easy. Now, you can translate, validate, and manage courses—without leaving Articulate 360.
Already an Articulate 360 subscriber? Contact your admin about starting a free trial of Articulate Localization. And if you’re not, contact us to learn more.
Want to learn more about localization? Check out this helpful article series: All About E-Learning Localization. Join the discussion in our Localization group, and subscribe to our newsletter for more expert advice sent directly to your inbox.
