How to Create Engaging, International E-learning

Online learning has become the norm for many. Whether you’re creating academic courses for students or on-the-job training for employees, learners need engaging, interesting content. This means adapting courses to suit their needs, wherever they are based. Today, we are looking at how to create engaging international e-learning courses.

Why is international e-learning so important today?

People around the world are working and learning from home. It’s thought that one quarter of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022. 

In fact, 90% of surveyed full-time, remote workers say they are just, if not more productive at home than in the office.

However, just because employees aren’t in a centralized office, that doesn’t mean companies should take a sweeping, global approach to training. For example, onboarding an employee in Japan might need to be different from onboarding an employee in Egypt, even within the same company. There will be cultural, linguistic, and practical differences to consider.

So, how can international e-learning courses bring the same engaging and culturally relevant content that would otherwise be delivered in person?

E-learning translation and localization are the answers.

What is e-learning translation?

When it comes to online learning, many courses and platforms need to be localized, not just translated. Translation changes text from one language into another, while localization makes further changes based on cultural differences.

This might include swapping imagery, changing the tone of voice, adapting units of measurement, reorganizing layout, removing cultural references, and more.

How e-learning localization works

Every international e-learning course is different. So, the exact changes that need to be made will depend on factors like region, budget, content, and the overall aims of your course. As examples, we’ve listed some common areas for e-learning translation and localization below.

1. Written text

The text on your page needs to be reviewed by an expert who understands the culture and language of the target region. This includes everything from paragraphs of learning content to call-to-action buttons. Everything needs to be carefully translated so that it’s clear, easy-to-use, and doesn’t add to the learner’s cognitive load.

2. Video

Video content is an important part of many e-learning courses, both professional and academic. There are several ways to translate and localize e-learning videos. You might decide to translate and re-record a voice-over with a native speaking actor or translate subtitles.

Both of these are common choices, and it’s important to decide which works best for your video. Adding a new voice-over and subtitles can help with accessibility requirements and encourage learners to focus on the video.

3. Graphics and images

Visual elements of your course are extremely important. Research suggests that only graphics that help the learner in some way should be included. Extraneous imagery and other visual design elements can detract from learning materials.

So, it’s important to make sure that your design is culturally relevant and engaging for the new audience. This might mean changing images, translating the text and graphics, using different color schemes, or more, to enhance learning.

Where to find e-learning translation and localization

At Future Group, we work with e-learning providers to help them reach new learners around the world. Our team understands your language, the target (translated) language, cultural differences, and your field of expertise. They use this knowledge to create the highest quality translations and localizations for international e-learning project.

To find out more, please get in touch.