{"id":59271,"date":"2020-10-23T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/?post_type=articles&p=59271"},"modified":"2020-10-23T13:43:04","modified_gmt":"2020-10-23T17:43:04","slug":"an-introduction-to-elearning-localization","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/articles\/content-development\/an-introduction-to-elearning-localization\/","title":{"rendered":"An Introduction to eLearning Localization"},"author":52,"featured_media":59273,"template":"","tags":[449,26146,2184,4090],"class_list":["post-59271","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-elearning","tag-elearning-localization","tag-localization","tag-training-localization","global_topic_tax-content-development"],"acf":{"sponsored":false,"gated":false,"gated_content_type":"","file_attachment":null,"gated_content":"","form_instruction_header":"To access the full article, please fill out the form below:","pardot_html_embed":"","author_override":true,"author_name":"Kuntan Dhanoya","author_image":59277,"author_bio":"With over a decade of experience working in the language solutions industry and a multicultural business environment, Kuntan Dhanoya works on enterprise localization solutions at Ulatus<\/a> and has extensive experience in localizing eLearning programs for global companies.","excerpt":"Localizing your eLearning courses is the best way to keep your learners involved and inspired and give them the coveted sense of inclusion.","main_content":"The 21st century has seen a rapid transformation in how people communicate globally, and 2020 has been a game-changer, as working and learning remotely has emerged as the \u201cnew normal.\u201d Keeping the remote workforce engaged, observing their progress, and customizing their learning and development (L&D) are a few challenges that companies and universities worldwide are coping with \u2014 often successfully, thanks to virtual training and eLearning platforms.\r\n\r\nWith a globalized workforce to manage and learners yearning for content in their native language, localizing your eLearning courses is the best way to keep your learners involved and inspired and give them the coveted sense of inclusion.\r\n

What Is eLearning Localization, and How Does It Differ From Translation?<\/h2>\r\nWhile translation means offering an eLearning course in another language, localization<\/a> means adapting the course to the target audience and its culture. It includes customizing the symbols, images, pictures, fonts, idioms, currency, dates, acronyms, graphical user interface (GUI), tone, measurement units and other details. The purpose of eLearning localization is to deliver the exact<\/em> meaning as the source course, with the correct emotion, in a specific cultural context.\r\n

Why Is eLearning Localization Important?<\/h2>\r\n

It Removes Cultural Dissimilarities<\/h3>\r\nIn India, red signifies wealth, purity, love and beauty. Conversely, in South Africa, it represents mourning (the red portion of the country\u2019s flag represents the violence and sacrifices made during the struggle for independence). In France, yellow signifies jealously, disloyalty, weakness and disagreement, but in Japan, it symbolizes courage and affluence.\r\n\r\nWould French learners relish an\u00a0eLearning course<\/a>\u00a0filled with images and backgrounds primarily in yellow? Surely not. This example demonstrates the importance \u2014 indeed, necessity \u2014 of localizing eLearning. It takes into account cultural nuances and aligns the course with the culture of the intended audience.\r\n\r\nLocalization also removes cultural differences in gestures, fonts, audio narration and symbols. For instance, many Western countries prefer a friendly tone in courses, while many Eastern countries prefer a formal tone. Recognizing cultural nuances prevents misinterpretations, makes eLearning content more relatable and relevant, and elevates the learning experience.\r\n

It Enhances Knowledge Acquisition and Retention<\/h3>\r\nTranslation improves knowledge acquisition and increases retention, but even the most flawless eLearning translation, if not in sync with the learners\u2019 culture, will fail to serve the intended purpose. Localization helps break down cultural barriers and makes the content more relevant.\r\n\r\nFor instance, let\u2019s say you are planning a training program on body language for a global sales team. The course targeted for North American learners will likely include a picture of a salesperson smiling as he or she shakes hand with a customer. But if the customer and the representative were in Japan, the picture will likely feature them bowing rather than shaking hands.","full_width":false,"content_band":[{"acf_fc_layout":"social_callout","blockquote":"Recognizing cultural nuances prevents misinterpretations and makes eLearning content more relatable and relevant."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_area","wysiwyg":"

How to Accomplish eLearning Localization<\/h2>\r\n

Emphasize Design in Addition to Language<\/h3>\r\nImagine you are planning a course for a Western workforce, and you\u2019ve translated the text appropriately but have not localized the course. Most of the images and graphics are in blue, so regardless of how effectively you\u2019ve translated the course, employees may misunderstand it, because the color blue is associated with feeling melancholy in the West.\r\n\r\nAs another example, let\u2019s say the course you developed for your workforce in the U.S. includes a video in which an employee makes a thumbs-up gesture to say, \u201cWell done.\u201d Now, you are planning to deliver the same course to employees in Iran. When localizing the course, you will need to change this gesture, because in Iran, it is an insult.\r\n\r\nRemember to localize the entire GUI and design, including your choice of fonts, to prevent misinterpretations and results in effective delivery.\r\n

Always Know Your Target Audience<\/h3>\r\nYou never want to see your learners disengage from your eLearning course \u2014 but you will if you attempt to localize it without sufficient insights about the target audience. Perform in-depth research about their cultural preferences, dialects and tone, spelling, etc. \u2014 and accommodate them accordingly.\r\n

Begin During the Initial Stages of eLearning Development<\/h3>\r\nIt\u2019s of paramount importance that you recognize the need for localization at the start of the course design process. Then, follow these five tips for creating a localization-friendly eLearning course:\r\n\r\n1. Minimize Multimedia<\/em>\r\n\r\nKeep graphics simple and multimedia to a minimum; redeveloping media leads to additional time and cost.\r\n\r\n2. Use Neutral Imagery<\/em>\r\n\r\nUse neutral images wherever possible instead of country-specific images, such as a logo only an audience in one country will recognize.\r\n\r\n3. Avoid Text on Images<\/em>\r\n\r\nExtracting and translating the text embedded in an image requires additional time and cost.\r\n\r\n4. Test the Font\u2019s Compatibility With Each Target Language<\/em>\r\n\r\nThis step will preempt glitches, as not all languages support all kinds of fonts.\r\n\r\n5. Avoid Humor and Idioms<\/em>\r\n\r\nIt can be exhausting to localize jokes and idioms.\r\n\r\nTranslating your eLearning courses<\/a>\u00a0will result in enhanced performance, but\u00a0taking the extra step of localizing them will always lead to greater acquisition and retention of knowledge. As each element in the eLearning course is customized to the targeted audience and their culture, learners will be better equipped to implement everything they learn back on the job."},{"acf_fc_layout":"social_callout","blockquote":"Translating your eLearning courses\u00a0will result in enhanced performance."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_area","wysiwyg":"[hubspot type=\"form\" portal=\"47185625\" id=\"1a737162-8494-4481-a7b8-90de39a32d04\" version=\"v4\"]\r\n\r\n