There are currently more than 7,000 languages spoken around the world, and even more in some regions.
To achieve good learning outcomes for a global audience, it is usually best to present learning content in the context of the learners’ native language and their own culture.
However, word-to-word translation of text is often insufficient to convey the meaning of the content. In fact, it can be a confusing or even offensive message.
Localization goes beyond translation to ensuring your content resonates with your target audience. This includes adapting text, graphics, video elements, and interactions to the local culture.
Because many words and phrases don’t translate directly, it can be difficult to build training content that achieves the same results and conveys the same depth of meaning in every language. For example, idioms and colloquial expressions such as: baseball Ground or cake It must be rewritten during the localization process to avoid confusion and ensure that it conveys the intended meaning. A best practice is to avoid using such words and phrases in content that will be translated into other languages in the first place.
It is also important to ensure that the design is communicated to the learner. A localization-friendly design approach helps ensure that your content resonates and that learners absorb, retain, and apply it in the way you intended. It also avoids the lengthy and costly revision process that often occurs when localization is postponed.
Learner preferences vary by culture
Even if the text is perfectly translated and the images, color palette, and multimedia are culturally in tune, you can still miss the mark if the behavior you’re asking your learners to perform strays too far from cultural norms. .
For example, in the United States, learners are accustomed to interactive, self-directed learning in which they incorporate their own knowledge and opinions and take charge of their own experiences. In other cultures, teachers are highly respected and students are not used to expressing their opinions or asking difficult questions. Expecting these students to behave differently can create a confusing and uncomfortable situation.
Therefore, getting the right training for everyone, everywhere is not always a simple and easy process.
Localization is essential when developing learning content for a global audience. It is essential to achieve business-critical learning outcomes, build trust within your company, and give learners a sense of belonging and importance.
Some types of content, such as DEI and leadership training, benefit from the expertise of in-market instructional designers who understand the cultural nuances of the subject matter.
In one approach, called concurrent authoring, instructional designers and developers native to each target market simultaneously create courses using the same source content. This not only results in content that is highly tailored to the culture in which it is delivered, but also greatly reduces the challenges of localizing learning content from English to other languages.
This approach also has the advantages of both speed and reliability. Leverage in-country experts to ensure content meets the linguistic and cultural needs of specific learners. It’s also an ideal approach when your content is important and culturally sensitive, or when you need to manage delivery time on a tight schedule.
Human diversity is fascinating and rich. But that means one size does not fit all when it comes to e-learning.
Taking the time to localize content for different markets and audiences is essential to connecting with, engaging, and achieving better learning outcomes with diverse international learners.