eLearning translation and localization services at Alpha CRC

eLearning and training content is not strictly limited to the education sector. In fact, it’s becoming an increasingly integral part of many companies’ employee onboarding processes. As in other industry sectors, continued digital transformations have upended the ways in which the learning and training sectors operate over the last decade. Thanks to continuous technological improvements, they ways in companies create learning materials, how users interact with them, and which audiences can access them have all been revolutionised, with further developments expected as emergent technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence move into the mainstream.

For eLearning and training providers, the potential to expand globally and attract an international client bases is huge. However, they must be prepared to invest in high-quality localization to ensure that content is appealing for all markets.

Alpha CRC understands the localization is critical in ensuring that users in diverse target markets remain engaged throughout all content. In fact, expert localization is one of the key motivators for eLearning and training objectives such as knowledge retention, course completion and behavioural change. Drawing on its network of in-country offices and its recording and design studios, Alpha CRC has provided Enterprise Localization solutions, including video support, for many of the world’s leading brands and eLearning providers.

eLearning translation and localization solutions at Alpha CRC

Alpha CRC has helped global clients localize their eLearning and training platforms via the provision of high quality, end-to-end eLearning translation and localization services. One example of these projects involved localization of a client’s eLearning multimedia course to be displayed in a web browser into ten languages.

The client supplied the course in three batches:

• Script: This was an excel file with content that was to appear in the ‘Course’ batch. This script was sent in advance of all other content so that it could be used to record voiceovers that would be needed for the complete ‘Course’ localization.
• Course: This was a compressed folder containing the .html file and all remaining files to be localized, save .mp4 files.
• Videos: The .mp4 files to be integrated into the course.

Once Alpha CRC received the script in Excel format, the file was sent to dedicated teams of linguists for translation. This translation was then sent back to the client for feedback, which was then returned and applied to the script. Any notes provided through the feedback where then incorporated into the style guide that Alpha CRC maintains as part of its eLearning translation and localization service.

After adjusting the style guide, Alpha CRC received the remaining course materials, which were prepared for translation in an .html file. This was then translated and proceeded to Alpha CRC’s desktop publishing (DTP) division, which integrated the .html into the course.

Once this process was complete, Alpha CRC received the video files, which were also integrated into the course. Dedicated quality assurance teams then identified any issues and recommended fixes and adjustments for each of the ten languages. The course was then delivered to the client in both SCORM and offline formats.

Managing your eLearning localization project

Projects where eLearning courses in website platforms need to be localize require great cooperation between PMs, translators, reviewers, recording studios (if a localized VO is required), DTP and AV teams, and of course, the client.

Alpha CRC provides with the necessary information so that the client have a minimum technical understanding of the course, provide everything that is need for localization, the source files, and have a clear idea of they want in terms of cost-effective solution. A point of contact with the developers of the course is also good in case any functional issue occurs which require their cooperation.

Audio-visual workflow

Some common software used in eLearning projects Articulate Storyline, Rise, Captivate or Evolve.

A basic workflow in this case would involve the following steps:

• Export text in word or .xliff for translation
• Reimport translated file
• Fix layout to adequate it to the target language
• Export audio (mp3 or wav) for the studio to record the localized version
• Reimport it to the course
• Synchronize animations (if any) with the audio
• Check functionality of the course (“go to” buttons, link and hyperlinks)
• Publish the course with the proper settings and get it ready for QA (html format)
• Implementing changes after QA
• Prepare final package for Scorm or HTML format depending on client’s requirements

If closed captions exist for any video content in the course, these are exported, translated, and uploaded separately from the main course text. We should not forget to check that triggers conditions should also go translated. It sometime doesn’t happen automatically after reimporting translation so need to be adapted manually from inside the software itself.

After that, the layout would need to be cleaned out, and verify that all slide references are still working.

Finally, we would just need to upload the localized voice-over or the translated subtitles if any.

The benefits of localizing eLearning content

By localizing eLearning and training content, course providers are able to benefit from a number of key benefits:

• Broader learning audiences
• Enhanced user engagement
• Stronger learning outcomes
• Improved brand reputation in new markets

Find out more about the benefits and challenges of eLearning and training localization. Learn more about other use cases of how Alpha CRC helped companies achieve their localization goals.