E-learning course translation. How to do it properly?

“When it comes to e-learning, content means everything. If e-learning content is not masterfully designed, all the rest will just go down the drain.” – Christopher Pappas, Founder of elearningindustry.com

E-learning educators are blazing a trail in this digital age. Innovative, out-of-the-box thinking and teaching are fundamentally changing the way people learn. We now have more tools at our disposal than ever before and the future of e-learning is looking bright, especially thanks to industry experts who continue to inspire us. One of the key factors of the elearning global expansion is the decision to translate different platforms.

Translating elearning courses comes with many advantages. By translating your elearning course, you get a greater range of customers. By extension, that means you will experience growth, and gain new ground on competitors that are limited to one language. After all, there are billions of people out there who might want your product, and many of them would be more likely to get it if you offer it in languages besides English. Meanwhile, it adds confidence to your business because there is something great about knowing you can make yourself understood in a variety of languages.

For those who create, deliver or market e-learning courses, the opportunity to expand internationally opens up valuable and lucrative opportunities but also poses some obstacles: time and cost. However, contrary to what you may hear, it doesn’t have to be a timely and costly process. We can ensure an easy process along with the best translating practices when translating your elearning course.

1. Translator assembly and testing - Gather qualified linguists and start with a testing phase to round up a pool of capable linguists for the project.
2. Arrange Translation Memory - Gather any translation memory files from past translations such as glossaries, style guides and terminology related to the current project that the client might have from the past.
3. Proof of content – send the initial translated content to the client and wait for their feedback.
4. Begin the process – Once approved by the client, take into consideration the client’s suggestions, demands and comments and then proceed to the work. This procedure will take place throughout the project.
5. Review with the client – Before moving to the recording phase, the client must sign the translation off.
6. Voice Talent Audio Samples – The next stage of the project, for which a testing phase to round up a pool of capable providers is advisable, is to find voice talents for the project. Audio samples must be sent to the client for their consideration.
7. Audio recording – Audio bits of a specific number of voice artists will be recorded step by step, taking the feedback from the client as a guide at all times.
8. Audio Publishing – Work on perfect synchronisation and insert the audio in the videos/presentations.
9. Testing & Desktop Publishing – If the client asks for it, the translation company can manage the insertion of the translated and recorded material into the online platform for a perfect, all-encompassing service. This involves text editing and formatting to achieve best online-viewing results as well as other adjustments to ensure that the audio and videos are in the right places and they play when they are supposed to.
10. Final Sign-off & Delivery – Once approved by all parts, you are ready to deliver to your client.
     

Clients are progressively willing to invest the time and money in professionally translating their courses to ensure that students have confidence in their offer and that they have confidence in the success of the e-learning products. Therefore, if translation companies will take the time to review the process and invest the time upfront, they will achieve much better results and make fewer overall errors.