Localization Best Practices

7 actionable tips to get maximum impact from multi-language training

Get more impact from global training

So, you’re ready to offer training content in more than one language. Now what?

It doesn’t matter where your project sits on the translation-to-localization spectrum. Nothing demonstrates success more than impact.

These tips will help you get the most from your effort and investment.

Ready to translate? Not so fast.

It might surprise you to know that there are many steps to a great localization project … and translation isn’t the first. Here are the steps to success you’ll explore in this chapter.

Step 1: Establish a scope

Before you do any project work, you must determine your project scope. Some critical questions to ask at this phase include:

How many languages does this project require? Is that realistic with your resources?
What language or dialect does the audience speak? Don’t assume or guess!
How will you accommodate character variations like right-to-left and left-to-right text?
How quickly do you need to deploy the training?
What course elements, beyond text, will be in scope? Don’t forget embedded text in graphics, audio, video, closed captions, attachments, and formulas.
How frequently will you need to update the course to meet learner or compliance needs?

Tip #1

On a tight budget? Consider assigning course elements a weight or priority level. Use the assigned level to determine what’s mission-critical and nice-to-do as you assess project scope.

Step 2: Prepare the course assets

These best practices will help prepare your text for translation:

Cut jargon, idioms, cultural references, and humor from the text.
Use simple and concise language to support easy and accurate translation.
Flag technical or branded language that might create issues or that even fluent speakers could misinterpret.

Itemize design adaptions you’ll need. Some to consider:

Adequate space for text, which could increase by 20% or more
Images, colors, or symbols you’ll need to localize to increase cultural relevance.

Tip #2

Using an AI-powered translation tool? Always review the output to identify translation or layout errors. An automated layout issue finder can speed up the process and reduce the need for a manual slide-by-slide review.

Step 3:
Settle the rules

It’s not time to translate yet! Establish some translation guidelines with these helpful tools.

Glossary

This critical document defines approved translations for terms and word preferences across multiple languages.

Style guide

This document covers language rules that reflect and correlate with your brand and typically include punctuation, grammar, abbreviations, and acronym guidance. It will also cover tone, formality, and voice.

Tip #3

Look for tools that make it easy to import your custom glossary to boost consistency and reduce translation errors.

Step 4: Get the right team

To translate or localize an e-learning project effectively, you need support from subject matter experts (SMEs). Your team will depend on your project scope, complexity, and reach—so you won’t need everyone for every job. Just ensure SMEs have clearly assigned roles.

Language experts should be fluent in the source and target languages and demonstrate cultural knowledge and a working understanding of the topic. You might need a translator and copy editor.
Topic experts should be fluent enough to understand the course in both the source and target language. Their primary role is to provide topic expertise.
Supporting teams may change based on the course’s use and impact. Should you include legal, compliance, or cultural sensitivity experts in your review cycles?

Tip #4

In-context validation within the platform is a huge timesaver, eliminating the need for screenshots, added documentation, and back-and-forth clarification. Side-by-side views aid quick and accurate validation.

Step 5: Pick the right tools

With the project scope and team established, it’s time to choose the tools for the job. Weigh needs and budget against the priorities you set in the previous steps before selecting from some of these common project tools.

Project management. A central place to track project progress, assignments, and deliverables.
Asset creation. What resources will you use for visual design, audio, and video? Will you need new vendors?
Course authoring, review, and distribution. What translation capabilities are integrated into your e-learning tool, and what will you need to supplement? How will SMEs access files to review? How do translated files work in your distribution tool?

Finally, select a translation tool. These tools mainly fall into three categories, outlined on the next page.

Translation tools

Organizations often choose between these options to translate and localize courses

Some e-learning authoring tools offer translation, though effectiveness varies. Look for tools that include a complete authoring and localization solution.

A Language Service Provider (LSP) offers translation, localization, and proofreading services through experienced linguists. However, LSPs can be cost-prohibitive and time-consuming, delaying learners from critical training in their preferred language.

A Translation Management System (TMS) automates project workflows and may include AI translation. However, TMSs aren’t combined with authoring tools, which can mean tedious tasks for course creators and validators, like explaining context, switching between platforms, and multiple import and export steps for each draft and language version.

Tip #5

An integrated tool can make workflows easier. With Articulate Localization, authors can track and manage multiple language versions as a single item in the platform and export them as a single item to LMSs that support multi-language SCORM packages.

Step 6: Execute your plan

You've laid a solid foundation. Now, it’s time to translate, localize, and validate your courses in each target language.

1. Translate

Initiate translation in your chosen tool. Those using an LSP or TMS will first need to download the content into an XLIFF, JSON, or XML file. With Articulate 360 and integrated Localization, you can begin translating into multiple languages within the platform.

2. Localize

Execute the localization plan you established. Start with each target language. Don’t forget about supplemental assets like images and attachments that may need culturally relevant adjustments.

3. Validate

Never translate or localize without checking quality—or risk embarrassing or inaccurate output. Validating LSP or TMS projects may need more hands-on work to provide context. Save time with in-context review in the authoring platform with Articulate Localization.

Tip #6

Consider tool requirements and plan an appropriate amount of time for the review stage. Will your team need to download and upload files? Will authors need extra time to reformat the translated course in situ? How will SMEs and authors exchange contextual information, and how long will that take? Do you need an in-context review after text placement to ensure the meaning stays intact?

Step 7: Resolve to review

Imagine you’ve successfully published your first multi-language course.

Don’t stop just yet. Commit to a governance process before you complete the project. Outdated materials can cause confusion and, in some instances, could result in noncompliance and/or safety issues, as well as financial exposure. Ask your team:

How often does this content require updates?
What are the risks of not updating in that time frame? This answer will help with resource allocation, budget, and prioritization with other efforts.
Who should be involved in the revision process?
Who will spearhead revising and republishing?

Use these answers to establish a review cadence and team responsibilities.

Tip #7
Articulate users can simplify distribution with the option to publish all language versions as a single package to Reach. Click this link to learn more about the process.