Localized Content Valued by ELearners

SDL today announced the results of research exploring the impact of delivering foreign language eLearning content to employees. The study of over 2,000 German adults, revealed that the majority of workers think that accessing eLearning material outside of their mother tongue would have a negative impact on their work. 

The research, conducted by YouGov, found that 64 percent of Germans think that they would be able to better understand eLearning material if available in their native language. 

“It seems that some businesses are failing to deliver employees with the standards of training required to fulfil their role,” said Rob Gorby, VP of SMB, SDL. “It’s important that businesses realise that although their employees may speak many languages, there’s nothing clearer than speaking to someone in their own language.” 

The research also found that delivering unlocalized content could hamper employee motivation. Almost two-thirds (61 percent) think that it would be more difficult to understand important information relating to their job role if eLearning material was not available in their native language. And of those who said it would be more difficult, 63 per cent think it would have a negative impact on their overall performance at work. 

One company that has seen a noticeable increase in demand for localized content from its clients is DDI, which offers world-class learning systems from 42 offices in 26 countries around the world. It recently partnered with SDL to ensure its eLearning content adds true value to employee performance. The company offers its learning development programs in 21 languages, including French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese. 

“These results highlight our own experience that employees value content in their own language, especially when it relates to their role. We’re seeing huge demand for our services, so far translating 3.5 million words of learning content, while also reducing our costs by almost a quarter with SDL. Businesses should always be looking to give staff the best, most dynamic and innovative experiences. ELearning content forms part of that,” DDI spokesperson. 

To find out more about SDL, and how we can give your learning content real impact across any language, visit us at the World of Learning 2017, taking place on 17-18 October 2017. We’re on Stand D180. 

Notes to editors
Research conducted by YouGov in Germany involving 2,000+ German adults (of which 974 were workers). Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th - 16th June 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all German adults (aged 18+).