Localization of eLearning courses: Common challenges and mistakes you need to know about

In a world that's more connected than ever before, eLearning courses can now easily reach audiences all over the world. However, relying on just one or two widespread languages like English or Spanish can exclude countless more people who could benefit from your courses if they were more accessible to their language and culture. This is where the localization of eLearning courses can come in handy, maximizing the reach of your training materials so that they offer a satisfactory learning experience to as many people as possible. In this article, we discuss 6 common mistakes that keep you from developing eLearning content that is suitable for localization.

Before we dive into that, let's remind ourselves what localization means and how it differs from translation. Although eLearning translation makes sure a piece of content is simply converted into the target language, localization touches on many more aspects. In fact, it ensures that your course will be modified accordingly to fit not only the target language but also its cultural characteristics. For instance, localization will examine whether the images, language style, units of measurement, or currencies are in accordance with the native culture of the learner. In some cases, even the choice of colors is important, as it could cause confusion or disengagement among learners.

Providers of eLearning courses have realized that the global market now includes many more countries than before. And, despite wanting to offer localized content to their audience, a lack of experience and knowledge might lead to subpar results. Therefore, instead of diving into the process head-first, it's important that you take some time to consider what you can do to ensure the success of the localization process. Below you will find 6 mistakes that keep you from achieving maximum results.

 

 

In recent years, an anglocentric approach has been surrounding the development of eLearning courses. There are various reasons for this, as English tends to be a highly accessible choice even for non-native speakers. However, many businesses are now realizing that releasing all their material in one language isn't the most viable solution. When that happens, they are forced to deal with a great amount of reworking because their material needs major changes to be suitable for people of other cultures. Apart from wasting resources, this can lead to inadequate final results, as localization professionals lack the necessary background information to make the right decisions.

 

 

When speaking of background information, we refer to context, one of the most valuable tools translation and localization professionals use to ensure their work is high-quality and

 

suitable for the intended audience. Being unaware of the specific circumstances and conditions surrounding a piece of text or image used in your eLearning course can lead professionals to produce inaccurate translations, inconsistencies in terminology, or even insensitive or offensive content. A simple example would be mentioning a position or service that doesn't exist in a particular branch of your company. Therefore, it's crucial to give them all the necessary information but also try not to complicate matters using language that is overly complex or culturally specific.

 

 

Using English as your primary source language when developing eLearning content is a valid decision. But, as you break into new markets, you must start viewing the quality and style of your original content in a different way. For example, material that is produced in English often leans towards a more conversational style, using many idioms, local references, or slang. As these elements vary greatly in different languages, trying to localize that content will be a complicated and challenging process. Instead, keep your source material as simple and straightforward as possible, without any words or phrases that could lead to misinterpretations and confusion.

 

 

But what happens when you have to create eLearning content in the learners' native language? This process needs to be treated with particular caution, as there are various factors to consider to avoid creating ambiguous or even insulting content. First, there are simpler issues, such as writing dates and numbers in the correct form, replacing references, or modifying stories and scenarios to match the target culture. Then, there are idioms, images, or jokes that might be perfectly fine in one language but big faux pas in another. As it's impossible to know all the cultural intricacies of each country or language, you must rely on trusted localization professionals to help you effectively reach each audience.

 

 

The localization of eLearning courses doesn't include only text but also graphics, images, and possibly, videos and audio. Neglecting to make these elements part of your localization plan will compromise the quality of the training experience you offer your learners. Therefore, when developing your online learning content, it's important to be thinking ahead about how you will make its localization more straightforward. Firstly, make sure all your graphics and images are editable and have no embedded text. When it comes to audio and videos, we advise you to provide professionals with source language scripts they can easily translate and reintroduce in the course in the form of re-recordings or subtitles.

 

 

A simple mistake that can make localized eLearning courses seem less professional is overlooking language expansion. It is a common phenomenon that refers to the fact that the translated content requires about 20% more space than the source, especially in certain language pairs. Although this is a significant difference, there are a few ways to avoid the eyesore that is words exceeding their borders. For one, make sure to rely on white space rather than restrictive elements such as text boxes and frames. If there are any buttons or navigation bars you're worried about, try to use concise language and possibly allow some extra room, just in case.

Many businesses jump into localizing their eLearning programs only to realize that they haven't designed the source content for this purpose. And at that moment, they must make an important decision: keep working despite the difficulties or completely rework the source content. We already mentioned that reformulating your eLearning material requires significant time and money, but it will probably be beneficial in the long run. If you decide to leave your content as is, you run the risk of producing a subpar eLearning course and having to repeat its localization, possibly even more than once.

 

If this all sounds like too much hassle to you, make the localization of eLearning courses your priority. Besides, as people get more connected and education becomes more accessible, modifying your content for different audiences will turn into a common practice. So, save yourself the trouble and take the necessary steps to avoid the mistakes we discussed in this article so that the original eLearning courses that you develop can easily become your starting point to conquer new markets.

 

Download Creating Better Global eLearning Experiences by RWS to learn how you can make the most of your resources and save time when creating engaging and effective eLearning experiences for everyone.