elearning localization videos

With access to ever-evolving technologies to take training to the next level, it’s becoming increasingly easy for businesses and educational institutions to offer global teaching opportunities. Although multilingual online courses didn’t always have the best reviews – thanks to their initial complexity ratings – modern eLearning courses can be the gateway to success if they are adequately localized.

But what exactly is eLearning localization, and why does it play such an essential role in the success rates of international online courses? In this post, we look at the fundamentals of eLearning localization and why localizing multimedia content like VR and video elements is so important.

Why is it Important to Localize eLearning Courses?

There are many benefits to gain when you localize an eLearning course. According to eLearning Industry, employees tend to demonstrate a 50% boost in productivity when they use eLearning tools. It’s also estimated that organizations can save up to 70% on training costs when they choose to use eLearning. As eLearning continues to grow more popular, the need for localization has become even more necessary.

As highlighted in The Ultimate Guide to Localization, the localization process goes above and beyond the traditional translation process. It also focuses on cultural concepts and transforms an entire message to ensure the target audience perceives it in a way that feels like it was initially created with their language and cultural nuances in mind.

During an eLearning localization project, it is essential to focus on localizing your course videos and any Virtual Reality elements they might contain. Seeing that more than 65% of people are visual learners, video and VR elements often ensure the instructional design of a course is more engaging, and localizing these elements can significantly boost the success rate of your eLearning program.

eLearning Video Content Localization

Our tech-driven world is very reliant on video content, and within the scope of eLearning content, videos can be fundamental for presenting graphics, interviews, and conversations in a way that best fits the target culture and language.

You can either have your course video subtitled, or you can use voiceovers for your video localization. Obviously, you also have the option of reshooting the video for every new language or culture, but this can be a very expensive route to take and generally isn’t advisable if you’re localizing for a variety of languages. 

Regardless of whether you choose voiceover or subtitling for your videos, your original script needs to be neutral and not based on any regional or local slang. The more impartial the content, the easier it’ll be to translate, and the less time you spend on translation, the faster (and more cost-effective) your localization project will be.

Localizing VR Elements in eLearning Courses

Almost all eLearning courses contain video content, but Virtual Reality isn’t yet as widely used in the online learning sphere. However, you can build your brand with BPO services today since VR is set to become the next big thing in our digital society.

According to new master in design for virtual reality, the impact of virtual reality on our lives will soon be comparable to that of the Internet or smartphones, offering hugely promising possibilities in the field of education. In VR spaces, your learners will be able to explore and engage with a computer-generated environment that helps them understand and better absorb the course information. You can think of it as a type of game-based learning environment or scenario-based learning. And when learners can participate in an immersive experience like this, they’re fully engaged with its content, which leads to higher success rates in the course. Even though VR is simulated, localization is still very important since the environment must be accessible and appropriate for international markets. That means that your content will have to be translated similar to video localization.

It might be true that VR is one of the new technologies that aren’t a reality within the learning space, but many organizations are considering tools like these as ways to simplify the basics of the knowledge transfer process and effectively develop new internal skills within their teams. 

What Are the Benefits of Localizing Your eLearning Multimedia Elements?

The multimedia localization process allows you to rapidly expand your potential market. Instead of having to constantly develop new courses for your current audience, you can use your existing assets to generate more revenues by localizing your course content (including its video and VR elements) for various audiences.

The benefits of doing this include:

Guaranteed Market Penetration

Multimedia localization makes it easier to present your course to the local audience. They accept the eLearning course because there is no barrier stopping them from understanding the marketing message.

Accurate Feedback from Learners

After you localize your course, you can rest assured that your students understand the course content. And seeing that they have a clear understanding of the course, they can provide accurate feedback to help you focus on creating more effective content and improving your course.

Multimedia Content Leads to Increased Sales and Customer Satisfaction

Multimedia localization makes it possible for everyone to understand your audio or video content. This means a large percentage of your audience has an idea of the benefits they will gain by investing in your course. In essence, this means that you have a customer base that intentionally supports your brand. And customer satisfaction is naturally higher when people buy products that they are familiar with.

Attracting Investors Becomes Easier

Investors are always interested in putting their money in established businesses that are already thriving. Once you leverage multimedia localization to capture a larger market share, you should be on the lookout for investors who will give you more funds to grow the business further.

Final Thoughts on eLearning Content Localization

When you prioritize eLearning localization essentials like video and VR tech for your online training courses, you’re investing in the surety that your content will be seen and experienced in the most effective way possible. Without localizing your course, you’re potentially missing out on targeting a proverbial goldmine of the market share. 

But if you work with a localization professional to optimize your self-directed learning for content for online learners, your ROI could easily go above and beyond your wildest expectations while you simultaneously increase learner engagement and enhance the learning experience for your students.

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.