eLearning Course Translation: Improving eLearning Courses For Wider Appeal

eLearning Course Translation: Improving eLearning Courses For Wider Appeal
Summary: In this article we discuss how to make an eLearning course more appealing to a wider audience and some techniques to help with eLearning course translation.

eLearning Course Translation For Wider Appeal

Learning can oftentimes be a tedious, time-consuming, and challenging process. In our early years, school is where we do much of our learning. We listen to teachers as we sit in classrooms. We devour books in the library. We learn by watching films and videos. Learning doesn't stop when we graduate and start working. We learn about new concepts, ideas and technology in conference rooms or during training sessions. We flip through numerous pages of reports so we can uncover valuable information. We learn so we could understand the world better, enhance our skills, broaden our capabilities, and so that we will be better equipped to face the opportunities and challenges ahead.

There are many ways through which we could learn, but one of the most creative and effective ways to do so is through electronic learning, or eLearning. These days, with the internet quickly becoming a staple for all businesses and households, eLearning courses can really be the most practical option.

With eLearning, information is conveyed to the target audience with the help of the internet. It is done through videos - an option which is very engaging, as opposed to going through an entire course by just merely reading information on a piece of paper or on a computer screen. A video with voice overs can make the learning experience better because it makes use of creativity and imagination. Ideas and concepts can be presented vividly through the computer screen using graphics, drawings and charts. Models can also act out different scenarios to help in making the eLearning course more understandable and interesting.

For an eLearning course to be truly effective, it has to be able to connect with the target audience. An individual will be better able to absorb learnings if ideas are presented in ways which are familiar and applicable for him/her. That is why eLearning course translation and localization play huge roles in eLearning. This is how an eLearning course could be tailor-fitted to various audiences' needs and expectations. For instance, translating an eLearning course into different languages, depending on the audiences' nationalities, will help in getting important messages across more accurately. As well, language customized to the profile of the target audience will aid in making concepts and ideas easier to imbibe. For instance, the use of medical jargon to describe concepts may go completely unappreciated by a group of law students. In the same way, using colloquialisms intrinsic to the British in discussing ideas may cause confusion for, say, Asians. Hence, it is important to get to know the target audience first before conceptualizing and creating an effective, engaging eLearning course. eLearning course translation and localization are keys to an effective eLearning experience.

The choice of models is also crucial in successfully holding the target market's attention. If the audience is better able to relate to the people they see on screen, then the absorption of information will be simpler for them. For instance, dark-haired, olive-skinned models may seem perfectly engaging for someone from Asia. However, these same models may make concepts and ideas a bit remote for Caucasians.

An effective eLearning course has to be concise, engaging, interesting and customized to the target audience's needs. It must also be fast-paced so information is effectively conveyed and absorbed. Based on studies, 12 minutes is approximately the amount of time within which an individual's attention could be held, so keeping this in mind can help in making learning less tedious and straining.

eLearning courses have certainly made learning easier and simpler for people from different parts of the globe. More and more businesses are turning to this option because it is practical, efficient, and quick.