e-Learning Blog

Blog

2024.04.02

Know-how

Solve Your Worries! Localizing e-Learning Content for Engineers

  • Category

  • Recommended Articles

  •  

    Moodle Implementation Support and Operation Services
    e-Learning Material Production Service

    Do you have any concerns about translating content when planning e-learning training for engineering positions?

    • - It is difficult to translate and make it easy to understand as engineering materials for ourselves, as we want to use the latest overseas materials in order to learn machine learning, data science, AI (artificial intelligence), etc. which are highly specialized fields.
    • ・I have never requested a translation of e-learning content from a vendor before, so I don't know how to go about it.
    • ・There are various formats such as videos and e-learning, but I would like to know how much work can be requested other than translation.
    • ・Propose the best approach that fits the scale and development schedule of e-learning content, as well as the budget for translation.

    At Human Science Co., Ltd., we support problem-solving in various ways.


    1. Can even highly specialized materials be translated?

    Can even highly specialized materials be translated?

    1-1. We will propose the most suitable workflow according to the translation field.

    E-learning content for engineers in fields such as machine learning, data science, and AI requires a high level of expertise and also requires knowledge of mathematics and statistics, making the translation difficulty level high. In such cases, a workflow that includes review by an SME (Subject Matter Expert) is suitable.

    In a regular review, the original text and translated text are compared sentence by sentence to check for accurate translation. However, in an SME review, after the regular review is conducted, an expert in the field (such as an engineer with extensive knowledge and experience in the subject area) reads only the translated text to confirm that there are no technical inconsistencies or ambiguities, and that the use of specialized terminology is correct and common within the industry. Any issues are then pointed out and corrected.

    Please also see the following blog for an overview of SME reviews.

    How to handle translation of the latest fields such as machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence)?

    2. Worried about handling translation projects for the first time

    First time handling a translation project and feeling anxious

    2-1. We provide thorough support even for your first localization request.

    Some of our customers may be new to managing translation projects as engineers. At our company, we can provide support tailored to your situation and preferences. For example, we can organize and share data so that you can confirm the translation target before starting the project, and we can manage the schedule according to your desired deadline.

    By examining the data of e-learning content and sharing which files are the translation targets in an easy-to-understand manner, even first-time clients can proceed with confidence in their confirmation. In addition, we will review the content of the e-learning content and assign suitable resources according to the desired delivery date.

    At our company, we also create e-learning materials, so we have knowledge about e-learning authoring tools. Please consult us first.

    Human Science | e-Learning Material Creation

    3. Can you also handle localization tasks other than translation?

    3-1. Proposing tools and workflows suitable for subtitle translation

    When translating videos included in e-learning content, tasks such as transcribing audio and adjusting time codes for subtitles are also necessary. As an example, our company has introduced a workflow using the subtitle translation tool CaptionHub, which allows for one-stop handling of tasks such as transcription, time coding (dividing the original text into one subtitle at a time while adjusting the time code), and translation while watching the video.

    By performing the translation work while checking the relationship between the video and the subtitles on the same screen, it is possible to greatly reduce the time required for adjusting the number of characters and time codes, which can become complicated if done in a later stage due to the consideration of the character limit for subtitles.


    ※Image source: https://www.captionhub.com/blog-post/editor-product-release

    3-2. Localize Articulate content with one click using the Learning Designer tool

    Articulate is also increasingly being used for creating e-learning content. Articulate offers a variety of features such as Rise and Storyline, and various file formats such as images and videos are used within the course.

    While the functionality is rich, we often receive inquiries from our clients such as "We have been tasked with localizing e-learning content using Articulate, but we have never used the tool before and are unsure of how to proceed due to its complexity."

    Our company provides support for clients to handle translation projects using Articulate, and is able to handle everything from translation to editing in one go.

    If you are unsure how to share data for Articulate content with our company, we will provide support. Additionally, we can handle the localization of various files such as course text, images, videos, and audio, allowing for a one-stop localization of all Articulate content.

    It is also possible to make changes that are not in the original text during the process, so please feel free to consult us about specific requests such as "I want to change the answer choices for the quiz for participants in Japanese" or "I want to delete or replace part of the original content".

    3-3. Compatible with files other than Articulate

    For e-learning content for engineering positions, there may be sample files and exercises included in various file formats such as .gift and .md. These formats, different from Articulate content, will be properly processed and translated while checking the layout.

    4. Want to proceed with translation according to schedule and budget.

    4-1. Smoothly handle large-scale projects and localization alongside development

    E-learning content for engineering positions may consist of multiple modules and courses due to its high level of specialization. Additionally, depending on the training schedule, there may be a need to translate content in a timely manner as it is being developed.

    At our company, we use translation tools with advanced status management features such as Phrase TMS and Trados GroupShare to smoothly progress large-scale translation projects.

    In addition, we will utilize the above translation tools to quickly share project progress with our clients. We also use communication tools such as Slack and Asana, as well as manage status in real-time through Google spreadsheets to share information with our clients.

    We will respond flexibly to schedule changes and additional volume related to e-learning content development on the customer side, and achieve smooth progress overall by maintaining close communication with the customer.


    ※Example of schedule sharing in spreadsheet

    4-2. Various combinations of menus are available to meet various requests.

    "We have various options available to meet our clients' priorities, such as the need for speedy translation with a focus on cost for in-house engineers, as the schedule for training has been determined and delivery is a priority."

    For urgent cases, it is possible to shorten the schedule by replacing the standard workflow of "translation + full review" with "translation + tool check" (or "translation + rough reading and tool check").

    On the other hand, when focusing on the quality of translation for e-learning content that also targets external audiences, including a translation rewriting process in addition to "translation + full review" will result in a higher quality translation.

    In addition to the above, we can also provide proposals tailored to your budget and schedule, such as MTPE (Machine Translation + Post-edit). Please feel free to contact us.


    ※Menu Proposal Examples (We will present customized options based on your priorities)

    5. Summary

    As mentioned above, Human Science provides one-stop translation services for e-learning content for engineering positions.

    We can handle advanced translation of the latest technology, as well as subtitle and dubbing support, and even video editing using tools such as Articulate.

    For more information on our video translation services, please refer to the following page.

    Human Science | Video Translation Services