Tips To Avoid Mistakes While Elearning Localization of Content

Tips To Avoid Mistakes While Localization Of Elearning Content

As organizations are having their target learners across the globe, the demand to localize the eLearning content into diverse languages is growing tremendously. With the increase of eLearning localization, the need for cross-cultural awareness has also grown extensively.

Apart from translation, eLearning localization services need to take care of cross-cultural variations, language etiquette, and cultural norms. As there are subtle cultural variations involved in the localization of eLearning, one should take care in delivering localized content.

In this blog, let us see some significant eLearning localization mistakes that you must avoid:

Assigning less space for screen text content:

One primary mistake content providers do is: they think of localization only after the original eLearning course is deployed. In fact, localization should be planned before the course is designed.Whenever we target a course for global deployment, we should note that the translated text may take around 25% of more length. It is always observed that the target language needs more words than the source language to explain the same thing. So, while planning localization at the design level, we can assign more space for screen text content.
Embedding text on graphics:

It’s a common practice of graphic designers to embed text on images/ graphics while explaining a concept. Though it is much suitable to engaging eLearning content, it may create inconvenience and consume more time for the LSP (language service provider) and the graphic designer when they are working on localization of the content. It is advisable to provide editable graphics for the localization task.
Starting localization before the original course is deployed:

We should not kick off the actual localization before we finalize the source content. Because, all the feedback and bug-fixing, which was limited to the source content would reflect on all the localized content – in multiple languages – creating havoc in project planning. So, it is always ideal to ensure that the source content is tested and approved before you start working on localization.
Selecting LSP without testing work samples:

Check the translation expertise by sending the random samples of your course for translation. Through random sample work, you can gauge the quality of the elearning translation. As the learning domains and subject matter differ from one course to the other, it is ideal to check the translation quality through random course samples.
Ignoring cultural differences in the targeted language:

Our lack of awareness sometimes may cause serious problems in terms of localization if we ignore the subtle cultural differences in the targeted language translation. For this reason, the translation process should be thoroughly certified by an expert native speaker, who should approve the final draft of the translation.

Tips To Avoid Mistakes While Localization Of Elearning Content

Assigning less space for screen text content:

Embedding text on graphics:

Starting localization before the original course is deployed:

Selecting LSP without testing work samples:

Ignoring cultural differences in the targeted language:

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