FAQs: taking your elearning & training content global

When you’re running a business, it’s hard enough to find the right employees, much less get them trained and up to speed efficiently. Add multinational operations to the mix, and you can imagine the potential pitfalls. With people working in varying roles, speaking multiple languages, keeping onboarding and continuing education cohesive can be a challenge to say the least.

So how can you set your business up for success? It has everything to do with identifying barriers and having a plan to get around them. If you’re like most business leaders, you have questions and we’re here to answer them!

How can language barriers impact the effectiveness of training and elearning?

Persistent language barriers can affect the meaning of the training content, diminish the user experience and negatively impact company morale. Sometimes nuance or word choice can change the meaning of a concept. If content is misunderstood, the learner will subsequently become misinformed. Misinformation can lead to poor productivity and decreased morale in the workplace. Language barriers are also a demotivating force that make it difficult for learners to complete exams or earn certifications. This can lead to increased employee turnover and negatively affect the perception and reputation of the company.

What challenges might learners face when going through a global training program that isn’t localized or in their native language?

Everyone has expectations when it comes to the user experience. Learners begin a training program ready to consume helpful content and build knowledge. If that content isn’t immediately available in their native language, they’ll most likely feel under-valued, perceive the organization to be biased toward a limited number of markets and need additional time to process content. On a larger scale, learners may question whether the organization is up to the task of supporting global business activities or question the quality of the program itself.

Take a safety course for heavy-machinery operators at a manufacturing plant in Vietnam for example. Many of the workers in the factory won’t speak English. Measurements and scales will differ from the eLearning country of origin (i.e., centimeter vs. inch, centigrade vs. fahrenheit, voltages and currency rates). In these cases, voiceover, on-screen text, locale-specific settings and reference materials must all be localized and converted to fit the target locale and audience.

What role does technology play in localizing training programs?

Managing and translating content across languages, platforms and channels is extremely complex, but technology makes it easier and more efficient. It empowers real-time language solutions that are compatible with desktop, mobile and web-based platforms, enabling cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration. It also provides a platform for receiving feedback, which not only breaks language barriers but also functional barriers in vertically organized companies.

Localization and translation agencies use a variety of tools that make the process more efficient for their clients, their internal teams and translators. The My Acclaro translation management platform, for instance, allows you to initiate, track and collect translations, as well as set up integrations to your content platforms to eliminate imports/exports or manual copy/paste processes.

Internal teams and translators use translation management systems/CAT (Computer Aided Translation) tools with built-in translation memory and terminology management functionality to ensure consistency, quality and cost savings for our clients. Depending on volume, language pairs and desired quality outcomes, machine translation with a human editing step can help reduce costs, speed up translations and ensure quality.

What is the organizational benefit of using emerging technology in corporate training programs?

Harnessing emerging technology ensures that all corporate training content is uniform, giving international staff the same induction, training and maintenance as employees in the business’ home country. This consistency reduces unclear translations, which often end up frustrating employees and can lead to poor performance.

Technology automates much of the process with human oversight, ultimately helping to enhance the business’ brand, increase its reliability and demonstrate a professional approach to all services. It also nurtures a motivated workforce that wants to stay with the company long term. Consistent and accurate training content helps a business run effectively in all international climates and can allow it pivot in multiple markets simultaneously.

What can a translation agency do for your training program?

When you work with a professional localization and translation company, you’re able to deliver consistent, targeted and relevant instruction. In addition to getting the message across, translation techniques like localization and transcreation help ensure your training content accomplishes its intended purpose: to educate, engage and inform.

It’s essential to partner with the right localization agency. One that delivers high-quality translations and uses technology to help you streamline the process. And most importantly, one that is an extension of your team and can add value by guiding you with localization, technology and eLearning/training best practices. Acclaro works in over 100 languages with innovative industry tools and automation technologies. Our team translates all types of mission-critical business training content and we’re always ready to discuss how we can create authentic, on-brand training experiences across cultures.

Contact us today to see how we can empower your global training initiatives.