With eLearning training now being utilized in every corner of the world, eLearning localization is more important than ever before.
What is eLearning Localization?
eLearning localization is the process of translating and adapting training content for a specific culture and language. Localization is not just straightforward translation; it involves additional efforts beyond the conversion of text from one language into another. It includes transforming imagery, tone, colors, currencies and more to account for cultural and regional nuances. The value in localizing eLearning content is that it ensures that your training is comprehensible and culturally appropriate for the target audience.
What Gets Localized In eLearning?
eLearning comes in a variety of forms, from product and compliance training to onboarding information, and it has many uses. When localizing eLearning content, the most common features that need attention are:
- Written content
- Graphics
- Formatting (for example, dates, units of measurement, etc.)
- Audio and video (subtitling and voiceover)
- User experience elements (for example, buttons and menu items)
Different types of eLearning Audiences
eLearning Localization for Corporate Employees
Whether you’re rolling out new processes and procedures in a corporate environment or developing product and service trainings, translating your eLearning content can help unite workforces scattered across the world or even different language speakers within your own country.
eLearning Localization for Students in Academia
Curriculum provided by schools and educational institutions can be expanded into different languages through localization.
eLearning Localization for Compliance Training
Many organizations have to comply with regulations, laws and guidelines. Compliance training companies, compliance professionals, industry groups and government agencies often localize compliance training for speakers of different languages.
Localizing Technology Training
Technology companies often expand into international markets, requiring that their software, hardware and training materials are localized.
Reseller Training
Providing your business partners, such as resellers, with the right tools to become better members of your network can help you achieve business objectives, including increased sales. By localizing your eLearning training materials, you’ll better equip your network with the tools and knowledge to reach business goals.
Global Demand for eLearning Rising
The global eLearning market is estimated to reach $305.3 Billion by the year 2025.1 This growth is being fueled by the corporate sector. Companies are embracing a culture of learning anytime, anywhere and on any device. By translating and localizing your eLearning content, you can expand your training to any language, allowing students, employees, and learners to fully understand and better retain your content.
Benefits of eLearning Localization
There are several benefits to eLearning localization. These include:
1. A Better Learning Experience
When people are taught in their native language, they learn, comprehend, and retain information better than when they are taught in a foreign language. By understanding your target audience and localizing your training materials, your learners’ experience can be more impactful and beneficial. Localization of training content can reduce lost time during training. It can also increase employee retention rates all while increasing productivity. In some industries, it also has the potential to reduce injury claims.
2. eLearning Localization Improves Market Expansion Efforts
Let’s put the world in perspective with regard to language. Across the planet there are 7.5 billion people, of which just 1.5 billion (20%) speak English.2 The Center for Immigration Studies finds that 67.3 million residents in the United States now speak a language other than English at home.3 Additionally, in North America (the United States and Canada), estimates are that there are 250,000 to 500,000 people who use American Sign Language (ASL).4 Localization can help you with your expansion efforts by making sure your eLearning content connects with the groups of people you wish to target. Localization not only helps you speak their language; it can also help your content be more culturally relevant so that it better resonates with your learners during training.
Want to learn more about how localization can help your international market expansion efforts? Then read the article: Why Localization is a Marketer’s Best Friend When Expanding Internationally
3. Employee Retention and Satisfaction
Providing effective corporate training is a must for companies that want to get an edge on their competition. When a company personalizes its training, it lets employees know they are valued no matter where they are located or what their native language is. This increases employee satisfaction, which can in turn improve employee retention. In addition, employees will learn better and easier when the course is in their native language and presents concepts in ways that they are familiar with. This boosts their confidence and eventually leads to better job performance.
For a more in depth look at the benefits of localizing corporate eLearning content, check out the article: Top Reasons to Localize Your Corporate eLearning Content.
List of eLearning Software
There are many different eLearning authoring tools on the market. Many language services companies can work within your favorite authoring tool and translate inside the native file, making the process a whole lot easier. Some popular eLearning authoring tools include:
How Much Does eLearning Localization Cost?
eLearning Localization is usually quoted on a per project basis. Price quotes will take into consideration the number of slides, words and graphics, as well as any video that needs to be localized. When it comes to the video and audio portions of your training, subtitling and voiceover costs will differ by language.
