Social StudentWith eLearning being entirely online, it’s one of the easiest business models to take abroad. However, you may have to do some audio translation through a translation agency if you want to expand into a market that speaks a different language. Below we’ll go into some eLearning tips and eLearning resources that can help make translating online learning materials far easier.
1. Remember Audio Translation
Since most eLearning courses have some type of online lecture or video system in place, you will need to apply the process of audio translation. This is where you convert audio (or video) into another language. How do I translate live audio? The process starts with transcription, where everything in the audio file is typed up by a professional transcriptionist. Translators then convert the text from the script line by line into the new language. From there, voice professionals read the script in the new language.
If the file has a visual element too, then video editors cut in the new audio and ensure it syncs with the visual parts. Subtitles might also be used instead of dubbing or in addition to it. To make sure there are no mistakes that could affect how your students are learning the material, it’s best to find a translation agency such as Tomedes that has a history of providing audio translation services in multiple languages.
2. Keep Localization in Mind When Looking for a Translation Agency
An important part of the overall eLearning translation process is localization. This is the part of the process that makes the eLearning product accessible in another language. After all, getting the translation right is really important. 44% of internet users in the EU felt they missed interesting information because a website was in a language they couldn’t understand.
From an eLearning resources standpoint, localization might update currency symbols, change date formats, alter pop culture references, and more. The localization process might also make sure the product is meeting local regulatory standards. In addition, it handles the translation itself, to make sure nothing is culturally insensitive to learners in other languages.
Any text that has to be translated might also require layout changes so that it looks right in the new language. 51.8% of internet users are in Asia, at the time of writing. Asian languages tend to require different layouts to English ones since the languages use such different characters and can even flow in different directions.
3. Use a Translation Agency with Direct Experience
Where can I translate a document? It’s fairly easy to find a language translation agency online. You can search for local terms like translation agency London or translation agency near me to find a service in your area. You might also search by terms like audio translation or eLearning translation to find a service directly related to the task at hand.
Once you have a shortlist of companies, you should look into the background of each prospective translation agency to make sure it has direct experience in providing audio translation services. Ideally, it should have experience handling eLearning resources as well. You can check the background by asking what kind of experience the agency has, reading reviews, and asking to see samples of previous work.
Also, be sure to pay attention to how your point of contact communicates. They should be professional and knowledgeable and fill you with confidence about their ability to complete the translation to the highest of standards. Ask about what the translation process looks like. They should be able to outline it in detail, along with costs and timescales.
4. eLearning Tips: How to Make eLearning Materials Easy to Translate
If you plan to expand into a new market, even if eventually, keep that in mind while creating your eLearning content. You can take several steps to make sure that your content is easy to translate so that the project runs more smoothly, more rapidly, and stays on budget. Some top eLearning tips for easier translation include:
- Avoid hard-to-translate elements such as colloquialisms, cultural references, and idioms, while writing your eLearning content.
- Decide at the outset if you want to use subtitles or voiceovers. Subtitles might be more cost-effective, but voiceovers can make it easier to learn.
- Make sure images are easy to update or don’t require updating at all. You can do this by making sure there is no text or models of a specific demographic in the images.
5. Remember eLearning Resources Documents
Translation doesn’t just stop with the learning materials themselves. You might also have to translate other documents that a translation agency can help with. These can include enrollment forms, department info, applications for major/minor declarations, admission documents, event notices, or financial aid documents. If you have live teachers or tutors, you might have to translate employee forms, training materials for teachers, and employee assessments, as a few examples. Be prepared to tackle all of this head-on if you’re serious about reaching international audiences with your eLearning materials.