Tips for eLearning success

Why eLearning?

eLearning is so much more than just convenient:

• People can progress at their own pace.
• The content is more compelling and memorable.
• If learners forget something, they can go back and review it again.
• Better retention leads to better on-the-job performance.
• People don’t need to be physically together.
• eLearning creates a culture of lifelong learning.
• You can extend your reach right around the world.

There can be legal reasons too. Some jurisdictions require that you translate employee training materials into the local language, such as French in Quebec, Canada.

Doing it right is a lot of work

Successful eLearning strategies involve a complicated mix of communications, from the written word to video, graphics, presentations, and interactive tools:

• Create charts and graphs. They’re great for communicating complex or confusing data.
• Add easy-to-navigate eGuides to present evergreen content such as tips or instructions.
• Consider using quizzes, but keep them simple or they’ll be very hard to translate.
• Include background materials that learners can refer to.

Accessibility is another key issue

All your efforts may go to naught if people find your eLearning materials hard to use. You need to pay special attention to accessibility:

• Use clear language that is easy to understand for all learners.
• Make navigation easy and intuitive.
• Pay attention to colour contrasts and fonts, for readability.
• Furnish descriptive alt text for learners with visual impairments.
• Include transcripts and captions of all audio and video content for learners with hearing impairments.

Think multilingual

You can’t assume that English is fine for all language groups. People may muddle through, but if you want them to truly understand and learn, you need to speak to them in the language they know best. It’s the only way to get full value for your investment. You can save yourself a lot of grief by planning for this right from the start:

• Avoid slang, jokes, and cultural references in your source text. They may not translate well.
• Plan for text expansion. Other languages may require more room.
• Avoid animations or images with embedded text. Instead, use regular text strings in your eLearning tool.
• Create a glossary of special terms as a guide for translators.
• Remember to budget separately for images, videos, or handouts, as well as any required subtitling, closed captioning, or audio narration.

Don’t just translate, localize

Localization can be as simple as switching units of measurement or currencies, or as complicated as rewriting whole sections of your material. Ask yourself a few important questions:

• Are my examples relevant to my target group? (European examples for Europeans, American examples for Americans, etc.)
• Does the information reflect local practices?
• Does anything need to be added or removed?
• Is everything culturally sensitive?
• Will anything get “lost in translation,” i.e., a slogan, a reference, a joke?
• Should I change any images? Is everything relatable?

To answer these questions, you’ll need expert advice.

Choose your partner carefully

Translating an eLearning campaign requires specialized expertise in a number of areas. You need to consider several important issues:

• Can my selected partner work with my eLearning authoring tool?
• Are they equipped to handle video, including transcripts, subtitling, closed captioning, and voiceover?
• Do their translators possess subject matter expertise in our line of business?
• Do they work with advanced translation memory tools and neural translation engines?
• What is their experience with localization and what approach do they suggest?
• Do they have special expertise in accessibility, and can they certify accessibility compliance?
• Do they have desktop publishing capabilities?
• What is their track record in eLearning project management?
• Is all the work performed in a secure technical environment?

TRSB checks all the boxes

The great thing about doing business with TRSB, Canada’s premier translation provider, is that we check all the boxes. We are a full-service translation company with specialized teams in translation, localization, accessibility, project management, terminology, and desktop publishing, all of them backed by a team of IT professionals. We work with all file formats and have a solid record of achievement translating eLearning materials for blue-chip clients across North America.

We can develop a one-stop eLearning solution tailor made for your requirements. There’s no obligation, just the opportunity to benefit from our years of experience.