Commercialization of Education
The commercialization of education has ameliorated its quality. People are looking for more quality content. This demand has enabled the growth of e-learning platforms. However, if organizations are looking to provide quality and customer-centric content, utilizing the assistance offered by e-learning translation services is the best approach.
The Need for Online Learning Platforms
Commercial education eradicated the barrier to attaining quality education. Initially, the so-called quality education was for the privileged class or well-off segment of society.
But with globalization, the increase in population, and the heightened competition of educational institutions, it was the need of the hour to create platforms that could provide information to people all around the world.
So what is an E-learning platform?
An e-learning platform is basically a storage space for educational information and content that you can put on the internet. So what it does is that it collects all the information that a student needs and places it in one place.
The resources mainly include the online lectures, notes, and student progress reports.
E-Learning Localization
Before we start talking about e-learning localization, it’s essential to discuss what localization is in the first place. Localization is the process of adapting a product or service for a particular audience or target market.
Similarly, e-learning localization is the activity of enabling the online course content so that it could be adapted to the market of your choice.
Diversity of Cultures
The fact that every culture is different does not need to be reinstated. But even then, people often forget to study and conduct thorough research pertaining to their particular locale. The nuances, intricacies, and preferences of culture are different and unique.
Hence, your services, or in this case, your e-learning platform, should cater to the needs of that special group of people.
Pre-Localization Essentials
So what are the major things that you need to consider when localizing your e-learning platform;
- The interface has to be perfectly localized so that the consumer can relate to it
- Every single image or photo that you place on your platform should keep intact the cultural preferences.
- Refrain from posting any symbols that might offend the target culture.
- Even the font size should be in compliance with the cultural setting.
- If you are using audio narration, ensure that the tone is appropriate.
- Any proverb or use of expression and idioms should be localized for your target market. It wouldn’t be a wise decision to use idioms that none of the people understand.
- The use of spelling is another aspect that many people forget to incorporate. For instance, English is spoken both in England and USA. But the spellings of many words are different. The use of s and z is often confusing. Hence, you should accommodate the spelling according to the target market.
- Moreover, every state has its own currency unit. Hence, make sure that your e-learning platform has the currency of the region at the checkout point.
- The date system is also different for every region. Hence, ensuring you are using the right format for the date is of utmost importance.
E-learning translation services have to incorporate all of these factors. If you are planning to purchase the offering of an e-learning platform, make sure that they implement all of the above-mentioned points.
Why Do We Even Need To Localize e-learning?
Accumulation of Little Things
People who diminish the significance of localization, are actually unaware of how localization works. The reason they tend to ignore the importance is that localization is a combination of little things.
These little things actually accumulate to give us the end result. Unaware people tend to ignore those things. And presume them to be unimportant.
Importance of Little Aspects In The Light Of Localization Process
For instance, font size and colors are an essential part of an e-learning platform. Literary translation services, for instance, alter the fonts of the documents so that they could be adapted into the target market.
The major reason behind this aspect is that different colors, fonts and symbols have different associations and meanings in different cultures, And for some people, they hold a huge personal attachment.
For example, the color Green in Pakistan symbolizes peace and respect. In India, the color red denotes wealth, whereas in South Africa it the red color is associated with violence.
Pros of E-Learning Localization
If experts suggest you opt for E-learning localization, then consider it a prescription and not just a tip. In today’s competitive environment of commercial education and online learning, e-learning localization has become a necessity.
Let’s review some of the benefits that it can grant you;
- If you localize your online training modules, it will save you a lot of time and resources. You would not need to create a separate module for every locale you target.
- You will attain a higher return on investment. Since you will be offering your service to multiple foreign markets, your business will expand.
- You will be able to establish stronger customer relationships. Since localization is the activity of personalizing the product for the customer, it makes the end consumer feel appreciated and valued.
- Once you enable robust customer relationships, your brand image will strengthen as well. You will promote your service as a multicultural one. And as an organization that values diversity and does not discriminate among different cultures.
Conclusion
E-learning localization is essential in today’s day and age. If you are just starting this journey, always take easy steps first. Don’t go for the most expensive solutions. But rather the most suitable one for you. Implementing simpler designs is the strategy to abide by.
