Translation And Localization Tips That Will Save You Money
The demand for multilingual online learning courses continues to rise drastically as corporate organizations expand their global outreach. As a result, there has been a steep increase in the demand for eLearning translation and localization, to accommodate the learning demands of learners who prefer to take the courses in multiple languages.
But without the right preparation, the translation and localization of eLearning can turn out to be an expensive and daunting task. The more prepared organizations are, the more cost-effective the entire translation project will be. Here are 6 helpful tips for organizations gearing up to take their online learning multilingual.
1. Consider The Demands Of A Global Training Early
The common misconception among most organizations, especially those working within small training budgets, is that translation and localization should not be a topic of conversation until further down the line. Do not let your eLearning translation and localization strategy be an afterthought.
To successfully and cost-effectively create eLearning for your global workforce, you will need to plan and build your source-language training modules with globalization in mind. Your training, right from the beginning, should be aligned with your business objectives, anticipating eLearning translations in the future.
- Determine which part of your training is to be translated, at the initial stages of your source-language training modules.
- Decide on a tentative number of languages you might be required to translate the eLearning courses into.
- If you are only testing the waters, choose one or two languages, to begin with.
- Use the results to help shape your global training strategy.
2. Choose A Truly Global Content Management System
Implementing a global training strategy involves more than merely making the content translation-ready or hiring a translation and localization expert to translate your online learning content. To disseminate the training effectively and to offer a seamless access to training content, use a cost-effective global content/Learning Management System (LMS).
Organizations with users located in various parts of the world can make use of the LMS to host and manage trainings based on the learner’s native language as well as their location. Most modern LMSs come equipped with a multilingual User Interface which allows learners to use multiple languages at the same time in the LMS, with the ability to switch back and forth between languages.
3. Optimize And Make The Training Content Translatable
It is a good and recommended practice to oversee that the source content of your online learning be rendered translatable and localization-friendly before the translation starts. Making changes midstream results in the translation process suffering longer translation times and significantly putting a dent in the organization’s budget.
To avoid these repercussions, use in-country Subject Matter Expert (SME) teams to review your source-language content before translation to test for market fit. If outsourcing, partner with a good vendor who has a dedicated team of instructional design experts who are capable of joining forces with your SMEs to double-check your content for linguistic equivalence both pre- and post-translation.
4. Make Use Of Cost-Saving Translation Memory Tools
Translation memory tools are among the most cost-saving options available for organizations gearing up for translation and localization. They are basically linguistic databases that save source- and target-language sentences, paragraphs. If the same sentence or paragraph appears again, it is automatically populated so that the translator can either select to accept it or retranslate it.
Translation and localization vendors use these memory tools to save significant costs, increase translation speed, language consistency, and ensure translation quality assurance. When and if outsourcing, be sure your vendor uses translation memory tools for all your translation projects to help increase translation volume, without ever having to increase the overall project budget.
5. Centralize All Your Translation And Localization Requirements
Make things easy by working with a single point of contact/vendor instead of managing several multiple translation vendors. By centralizing translation and localization functions, processes, and management, organizations can:
- Scale up or down the translation requirements on-demand
- Streamline workflows and boost accountability
- Apply uniform technology and methodology to the whole project
- Reduce internal management
6. Avoid Rework By Performing Timely Reviews Of Your Content
At the end of the day, organizations want to ensure the translation and localization of their eLearning have been upheld by the vendor. To avoid any possible rework, however, consider partnering with a vendor who will involve you at every step, taking your approval and feedback to drive the project forward. A good vendor will have structured management and quality assurance processes to help you perform timely reviews and efficiently coordinate validation.
Online learning translation and localization is a crucial investment for any organization, one that demands good pre-planning and strategizing. Following these basic tips—and more importantly, joining hands with a skilled and dedicated translation vendor—will help you smoothly navigate the financial and technological challenges of taking your eLearning materials across the lines of language and culture.
