A New Era for Corporate Learning: The Global eLearning Phenomenon
COVID-19 causing shift in online education and surge in localization for educational content
From Corporate Learning to Remote Learning, the digital education revolution has swept the globe, and it's here to stay. Despite the recent turmoil, this wave is stronger than ever, transforming the professional landscape worldwide.
In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual classrooms have emerged as the go-to solution for numerous industries. Gleaning insights from the Fosway Group, a leading European HR analyst, an astounding 97% of organizations now rely on these platforms for training and professional development purposes. More strikingly, over half (53%) have vouched for their outstanding success during the pandemic.[1]
But it's not just the novel coronavirus driving this shift. A recent survey by Chief Learning Officer showed eLearning delivery as the long-anticipated focus for learning and development (L&D) technology spending. This ascendancy occurred significantly between 2019 and 2020, with 52% of learning leaders now earmarking eLearning as a crucial spending area. [2]
Yet, for global impact, generic eLearning content is insufficient. It's vital to tailor educational material to meet local needs—and that's where localization triumphs.
The Importance of Global eLearning Localization
In today's interconnected world, an increasing number of businesses, governments, and nonprofits are hard at work adopting a global mindset. The rationale is clear: staying relevant in our global economy calls for a global outlook. Over a decade ago, the United States' National Security Education Program (NSEP) emphasized a simple truth—that language and cultural misunderstandings could cost a company millions.[3] Thus, companies with a global perspective reap greater success at home and abroad.
A study co-produced by RW3 (a firm specializing in culturally-based training solutions) and Seymour Insights (market research) surveyed 1,362 business professionals worldwide. Perhaps unsurprisingly, companies demonstrating a commitment to intercultural skills saw a higher chance of achieving strategic priorities than those who neglected to invest in such skills.[4]
Investing in eLearning Localization
A global outlook necessitates an investment in corporate training. By fostering connections, engagement, and productivity, eLearning training programs build and strengthen employees' overall skill sets. The pandemic, forcing widespread remote work, has made localization an invaluable necessity.
In the past, large, linguistically and culturally diverse workforces may have managed with unlocalized training programs—or at least with minimal investment in this area. However, the pandemic has shattered these expectations. For employees now isolated at home, traditional training methods are no longer applicable. A shift towards quality, remote training inclusively designed for diverse workforces is long overdue.
By localizing eLearning courses, companies exhibit empathy and care, traits needed now more than ever. With parents juggling work responsibilities and home schooling, and many facing distractions, scheduling conflicts, and technology glitches, locally tailored courses further facilitate success. And those companies that support their employees in this endeavor will work to garner their loyalty.
Localization Beyond Translation
So, what does localization entail? Simply translating content into multiple languages won't suffice. While regions may speak the same language, they don't always express themselves the same way. A region's culture, history, and experiences greatly shape the look, feel, and meaning of its language. In this sense, localization extends far beyond simple translation, encompassing adaptation for local cultures and languages.
To achieve such adaptation, localization requires skill. This may involve adjusting colors, images, symbols, and more to accommodate local cultures and languages. Native-speaking localization experts are best suited to this task, understanding the nuances of each region's dialect and sensitivities. These specialists often take text length into consideration, ensuring that languages with larger character sets and alphabets do not compromise the layout of eLearning modules.
Benefits of eLearning Localization
By localizing eLearning courses, you win the trust of your employees and boost their comfortability. With global employees learning the same skills and knowledge, eLearning courses can increase comprehension and retention. High engagement promotes productivity, retention, and job satisfaction, while showing commitment to employees can help keep them on board. Furthermore, a strong, inclusive company reputation follows those that invest in eLearning localization. A culturally sensitive approach, in turn, fosters a welcoming and diverse corporate culture.
How to Localize Your eLearning Courses
Before embarking on an eLearning localization project, plan accordingly. Clearly anticipate the number of languages you'll need and the regions where those languages are spoken. Collaborate with native-speaking localization experts to ensure proper attention to regionalisms, dialects, and cultural nuances. A thorough review of the eLearning course's overall design from a localization perspective is also essential. To achieve success in voiceover services, hire native voice actors from each respective region. When feasible, consider testing your localized educational materials with native-speaking learners in various regions. Ultimately, remember—the high cost of cutting corners is not worth it. Invest in eLearning localization experts and prioritize quality.
Partner With Us For Your eLearning Localization Solutions
At our website, we don't cut corners. Teaming up with us for your eLearning localization projects connects you with a specialized learning and development team of internal and external native-speaking localization specialists boasting years of experience and subject matter expertise in a multitude of industries. With support for over 150 languages—including every major world language—you're assured a comprehensive, tailored solution for your organization's needs. Empower your workforce today, adapt to the flexible, hybrid work environment, and lead the way in a rapidly evolving world. Reach out to us today.
REFERENCES
1 "Fosway News." Fosway Group, 6 Jan. 2021, www.fosway.com/about-us/fosway-news/.
2 John, Ashley St. "The Rise of e-Learning." Chief Learning Officer - CLO Media, 17 July 2020, www.chieflearningofficer.com/2020/07/17/the-rise-of-e-learning.
3 "What Business Wants: Language Needs In the 21st Century." The Language Flagship, National Security Education Program (NSEP) at the U.S. Department of Defense, 2009, www.nsep.gov/sites/default/files/What%20Business%20Wants%20Report.pdf.
4 Kuehner-Hebert, Katie. "Multinational Employees With A 'Global Mindset' Perform Better." SHRM, SHRM, 20 Dec. 2018, www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/global-hr/pages/multinational-workers-need-global-mindset.aspx.
- The shift towards eLearning delivery is not only driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by the long-anticipated focus on learning and development (L&D) technology spending, as shown by a survey by Chief Learning Officer.
- In a study co-produced by RW3 and Seymour Insights, companies demonstrating a commitment to intercultural skills saw a higher chance of achieving strategic priorities than those who neglected to invest in such skills.
- Localization of eLearning courses involves more than just translating content into multiple languages; it requires cultural and linguistic adaptation to accommodate local cultures and languages, which native-speaking localization experts are best suited to handle.
- By localizing eLearning courses, companies can increase comprehension and retention among employees, promote productivity, retention, and job satisfaction, foster a welcoming and diverse corporate culture, and build a strong, inclusive company reputation.
