E-Learning and Translation

Technology has changed the way the world learns. With information just a few clicks away at any given moment, E-learning has continued to expand as a primary method of education in the 21^st century. With education programs accessible from anywhere in the world, it is increasingly important for companies to recognize the role of translation in their programs. 

Our client, Mastery Coding (https://masterycoding.com), has been working closely with our team to have their coding education programs localized into Spanish. Our work together includes several courses being taught over multiple semesters, over 100,000 words estimated for translated content and many hours of voiceover. 

As a translation service provider, our goal is to integrate new languages as smoothly, and seamlessly with your product as possible. When it comes to E-learning, and computer coding in particular, there are several unique difficulties which have to be confronted when translating:

1. Voiceover – E-learning often comprises of educational videos and corresponding worksheets, tests and quizzes. In order to ensure that all students receive and understand the same content, it is important to have content available in their native language. This includes providing narrators and educators who speak their language. Video voiceover with an experienced team greatly increases students’ comprehension of the material. Considering the tone, vocabulary and syntax used in videos is important across all languages to ensure the same quality of content is being provided to all students regardless of the language they speak.
2. Technical Content - Computer coding is often a daunting topic with complicated jargon, so when teaching the topic to new students, it is vital that the vocabulary is nailed down in all languages. We work closely with our clients to make decisions regarding terminology, syntax and tone of any content we translate. In some cases, that means leaving the term in English and in others it requires extensive research to find the right term or phrase. 
3. Audience – At the start of any project we inquire about the intended audience for the translated content. In E-Learning this is especially vital as it can influence the tone and vocabulary used. Is this for young students with no current experience in the subject, or is it for experts who are learning about the newest innovations in their field, or is this for a corporate training event?

If your company is looking into providing training programs, videos, worksheets, or other educational material for an international audience, give us a call and we can discuss how to best prepare your multilingual content!

Preparing for International Trade Shows

Tradeshows are becoming larger and hosting more international companies than ever. The 2019 International Home and Houseware show boasted more than 2,200 exhibitors from over 50 countries. While the 2019 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago is slated to host over 100,000 visitors from over 100 different countries. With an international presence like this, many U.S. businesses are finding it necessary to provide their marketing materials in multiple languages. 

While the tradeshow circuit tends to slow down during the summer, it is important to prepare in advance for the coming events. If your company is looking to attend any shows or expos near the end of the year, we would suggest that you begin discussing what international markets you want to target now. Below are the most common types of materials that are translated before upcoming trade shows: 

1. Bilingual Business cards – Have one side of your business card in English and the other in another language. Most common languages include Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and French. 
2. Brochures – Translate your brochures and sell sheets to have available at your booth. If costs are a concern, you may want to only translate important or key information or brochures for your top products.
3. Product Catalog – If you are looking to attract buyers from around the world, it may be beneficial to have a full catalog of your products available to peruse in multiple languages. 
4. Slideshows or other sales materials – If you have a slideshow or other digital presentation at your booth, you may also want to translate that too.  Give your guests the option to receive a copy of the presentation as well, either through a CD or through e-mail. 

By preparing for the international visitors at whichever trade show you will be attending you are showing that your company has a global presence, interested in selling internationally. By presenting information in their native language, your customers will be able to absorb the message that you are trying to send. You may also have potential buyers out there that are going to go with you instead of one of your competitors because you have your materials translated when they do not. Being prepared could mean the difference between solidifying a sale and having the client walk away.