What is E-Learning Localization and why it’s Important

If you are someone from the e-learning industry, chances are bright that you must have come across the word ‘localization’ on many occasions. Even otherwise, if you are keen to understand what localization means in the context of e-learning, please read on to get answers to all your questions.

E-learning is one of the most important aspects of the training and development program for any organization. It helps organizations in saving their time and money, without compromising on the desired outcome. Imagine a global organization, with its presence in culturally-different parts of the world, having a one-stop, non-customized e-learning program. The problem is that the content of the program might not appeal to people belonging to every location. Due to cultural differences, it is very crucial to customize and more importantly localize the content to suit everyone’s sensibilities.

However, there can be several challenges in terms of language and technology that can arise when doing this. It is crucial to plan for localization right at the development stage of e-learning material to avoid technical hassles later. Other important aspects include making the layouts adaptable, choosing common fonts that will be available in both the languages and appropriate selection of visual material. The e-learning material must also be in an editable format, which can help localization experts make the necessary changes without recreating the original content at a new place. This also helps in saving localization expenses for a cost-effective outcome.

E-learning is a huge business globally and is expected to continuously grow at a rate of 7% by 2025. According to an eLearning Industry report in 2015, India showed a growth of 55% of enrollment in e-learning courses, which was the highest in the world. Being a global language, English only accounts for around one-fourth share of languages that are used on the Internet. This makes localization a fascinating aspect, as there is a potential to connect to a wider audience. Localization also can be very beneficial for the overall branding of a business. If an organization localizes its e-learning content for non-native English speakers, it shows that the organization is culturally-sensitive towards their needs. When a connection is established with the intended audience, it helps an organization get improved and desired results.

If you decide to localize your e-learning content, keeping an eye on current and future trends is very important. With interactive and video content increasing its share in e-learning content, it is advisable to keep the material neutral, without any specific cultural references. It will help the translator in future to make the necessary changes in a much easier and effective way. An e-learning localization service provider like DTP Labs, with a wide range of services and extensive expertise, will be your ideal partner for end-to-end service delivery of localization content.

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