5 Design Tips for Multilingual E-Learning Courses

Rashida Beal
Jan 19, 2023

Online courses with audiences in multiple locations or who speak multiple languages should take a multi-language approach. With the advancement of remote work and mobile learning, many now have a global audience. Training content or educational content must use multiple languages so that the content within the course is understandable and constructive to the learning environment.

eLearning courses based on multilingual approaches can be difficult to approach at first, but there are ways to make them less intimidating. Multilingual course creation also does not take an exorbitant amount of time and money, either.

Rather, just a proper instructional strategy and course instructional design to have both instructors and students excel. Follow along for the best tips for designing multilingual E-Learning courses.

Use a Tool with Multiple Language and Technology Compatibilities

Generating content in several languages is a key part of multilingual content creation. Verify all languages being used will be supported before you develop multilingual eLearning content. Investigate any limitations and seek benefits that you need for a successful eLearning program.

A tool like Maestra can help you with any eLearning translation needs. Maestra can add subtitles or do voiceovers in 80+ languages, so it is easy to use a piece of material in English and translate it into another language and vice versa.

Maestra can be used with just about any platform as well. If you want to easily translate a copy of a student’s work to check for proper grammar, simply upload a video or audio file and Maestra will do the rest!

Maestra can also translate text and put it into an audio file for voiceovers, making it easy for practice exercises to be developed. This makes the translation process much easier between both instructor and student.

Keep the Intended Audience in Mind

Remember that courses like these are training courses: they are meant to help develop long-term skills for the student.

The targeted audience of a language course is people who are in other locations but need to learn your target material. Consider exactly where your learners are and how to best teach them.

It is important to offer different options that will provide the same outcome as a part of your assessment approach. Ensure that the material is relevant and high-quality for all of your pupils regardless of their location or language.

If you want to use pre-translated content, make sure that translations are accurate and precise to native speakers in different languages. The text must use the proper terminology for each subtitle language. Review your translated eLearning course and make any adjustments as needed.

Furthermore, all language and references should be culturally appropriate. To improve the engagement of your course, add culturally-specific references when possible. For example, baseball references may not make sense to those outside of the United States, but references to worldwide sports like Track and Field or soccer (football) could help. Note that some casual phrases in one language/culture could be offensive in another. Take the time do research and review your course to avoid offending people in other cultures.

Be Concise, Yet Percise

It’s best to avoid regionally-specific language and idioms that can be difficult for software to translate. This could be relevant to just the location of that particular phrasing that the software does not understand.

If you are not comfortable providing voiceover yourself, it is easy to dub on Maestra. Maestra provides accurate translations to any uploaded materials. Meastra has an authoring for one to check the translation and make any corrections to translations.

This is a great way to be a project manager over the content you provide in your eLearning course. You will have to provide the voice, but Maestra makes it easy to translate and edit the dub.

Think Beyond the Online Classroom

Any disruption in translation consistency can result in confusion for the learning audience. While no one expects a perfectly translated eLeaning course, it is important to remember that these people are still learning and will need assistance and proper guidance.

Use materials that will allow them to think beyond the scope of assignments provided to them and how they would best practice this language in the real world. Choose an authoring tool that allows you to add in other examples, links, and exercises that can help.

Create Multi-lingual eCourses with Maestra

Developing an eLearning language course can be difficult, but it does not have to be. With the proper software and knowledge, materials can easily be developed, translated, and utilized.

We at Maestra want to ensure your success and the success of your students. Using our automatic subtitling software, you can create accurate multilingual eCourses for students, employees, and more.

Want to learn more about Maestra and what exactly we can do for you? Contact us today on our website and sign up for your free demo. Or try us out  here!

Rashida Beal
Jan 19, 2023