If you wish to broaden the scope of your elearning course, you need to learn about localization. This is a practice wherein a specific course is translated to be understood by a specific culture or nation. The translation goes beyond the text. After all, cultures go beyond the language alone. You need to be able to incorporate localization during the development process so the translation would feel more genuine to the target learners. You cannot just translate your text into Spanish or Chinese or Japanese or whatever language you want to localize into. You have to figure out if you need to use different images, examples or activities in order to make your course more effective.
The localization of your course would begin with your knowledge of who your learners are. This should not come as a surprise because this is encouraged across all development strategies in elearning. To add value to your course, you have to consider who will be learning from it. While your content will not really be affected by this knowledge, it will have a significant role in defining how it will be delivered.
We all know that delivery is very important in driving your lesson across to your learners. Take for instance teaching preschoolers addition. If you give them the traditional 1 + 1, you will be teaching them the right lesson, but will you be assured that they will remember it? But knowing how the minds of your preschoolers will work, you know that an image of 1 lollipop and another lollipop would make your students remember the lesson.
Localization in your elearning course works the same way. To help you localize the course you are creating, here are some tips that you can follow:
- Research the countries that you need to localize into. It is important that you know just what your course will have to adapt into. This will help you understand the extent of the “translation” that you need to do. Localization for an American and Australian audience is probably easier than doing the same for the Chinese or Japanese. If you probably need more work to localize into the latter group. The language is different and the examples should probably be according to what their culture would comprehend. You have to take note of gestures, colors, images, symbols and other cultural nuances that should be considered when choosing the right elements in your course.
- Identify what elements in your elearning course need to be localized. Is it enough for you to merely translate the language? Do you need to use special fonts? What about the images? Some images may be seen as offensive or may be interpreted differently by other cultures. When it comes to the audio or video material that you need to use, will a simple transcript suffice? Or do you have to create a whole new file? These are important considerations that you need to decide upon before you even begin creating your course.
- Choose a template that is ideal for multiple localization. A template will help you finish things faster and will help minimize the effort that you have to exert for each localization project. Since you have identified the elements that you need to change, you can put everything else into place so that you do not have to start from square 1 every time. For instance, you should avoid putting text in your images and graphics so you can change either one of them as needed. The more neutral your course is, the less effort per localization.
- Hire a professional to translate or test your course. Finally, you need to hire professional translators or native of the countries that you want to localize into. That is the only way that you can make your localization efforts authentic and genuine. Do not forget to use natives in checking out simulations of your course.
Since elearning is via the Internet which is a highly globalized platform, it is important for you to consider how localization will take your course to the next level. Consider this when you create your next online content.
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