Multilingual e-learning
One learning concept, multiple languages, the same quality
Do you want to train employees, customers or partners in multiple countries? Maxcademy develops and localises e-learning for different languages, with attention to didactics, tone of voice, multimedia, terminology, technical delivery and maintenance.
Translation · localisation · voice-over · subtitling · Articulate Rise · SCORM/xAPI · LMS · multilingual QA
More than translating text
A good language version should not sound like a translation. The learner must understand the same message, in language that naturally fits the target audience and work environment.
Multilingual learning in different sectors and formats
From retail and circular economy to patient information: Maxcademy has experience with learning content that needs to work across language borders.
Kooyman
English, Papiamento & Dutch
Multilingual onboarding and retail training for employees, with a virtual shop, safety, customer focus and interactive mini-games.
Upcycle Your Waste
Dutch, French & English
A complete academy on circular economy with multilingual modules, video, animation, quizzes and LMS hosting.
Gynaikon Clinics
Medical explanation in three languages
Eight animation videos on medical procedures and protocols, developed in three languages for understandable patient information.
Translation is not the same as localisation
A literal translation can be grammatically correct and still not work well as a learning experience.
Terminology, examples, forms of address, sentence length and cultural context can vary by language. Text in images, animations, software demos, subtitles and voice-over must also be considered.
That is why we look at each project to determine which parts only need to be translated and where substantive or visual localisation is required.
Translation
Accurately conveying the meaning into another language.
Localisation
Adapting the learning experience to language, target audience, context and usage situation.
Where multilingual e-learning often becomes complicated
One additional language means more than one additional text file. The entire production and maintenance chain changes as well.
Technical terms are not translated the same everywhere.
Without fixed terminology, different words for the same process, product or concept quickly arise. A glossary helps maintain consistency.
Text becomes longer or shorter
An interface, animation or image that fits perfectly in one language, can become too tight or even empty in another language.
Voice-over and subtitles need to be rescheduled
Timing, pronunciation, speech rate and synchronisation require separate attention and quality control for each language.
Local examples do not work everywhere
Names, situations, procedures and cultural references can have a different meaning or relevance in different countries.
An update must be reflected in all language versions
Without proper version control, an academy risks having different languages no longer aligned in content.
The LMS must assign the correct language to the right user
The distribution of language versions must align with the capabilities of the LMS, the target audiences, and possibly different locations.
First one strong master. Then scale up in a controlled manner.
Where possible, we first develop and validate a master version. This way, learning objectives, structure, content and interactions are approved before the same mistakes are copied into multiple languages.
Then we organise translation and localisation by content type: text, voice-over, subtitles, animation, images, interactive components and LMS metadata.
Finally, we test the language versions for content, layout, media, navigation and technical functionality.
1. Master version
Get Learning Design, scripts and production right in terms of content and didactics first.
2. Terminology & context
Document important technical terms, tone of voice and local differences in advance.
3. Translation & localisation
Adjust text, voice-over, subtitles, visuals and interactions per language.
4. QA & publication
Check each language version and deliver it suitable for the chosen LMS.
All components of the learning can be produced in multiple languages.
Not only screen text, but also the media and technical assets needed for a complete learning experience.
Text & scripts
Screen text, instructions, scripts, feedback, tests and LMS texts.
Voice-over
Organise voice casting, recording, timing and audio production per language.
Subtitles
Produce subtitles per language and align them with video and speech timing.
Video & animation
Adjust text on screen, audio, timing and any visuals per language.
E-learning modules
Build and manage language versions in tools like Articulate Rise or other authoring tools.
LMS delivery
Publish language versions as SCORM/xAPI or directly in a suitable learning environment.
We have subject-specific terminology validated by people who know the work.
Especially with technical, medical, legal or sector-specific content a linguistically correct translation is not automatically the best choice in terms of content.
Therefore, we make prior agreements about terms that must be established and involve local or subject matter experts in the review where necessary.
This prevents the same function, procedure or product name from being called differently in different modules and helps keep language versions consistent in content.
Terminology list
Establishing important concepts, product names and preferred translations in advance makes later modules faster and more consistent.
One change, multiple versions
Good version management prevents language versions from diverging in content after a few updates.
Design the multilingual production also for the next update
Multilingual e-learning quickly becomes costly if every small change has to be manually retrieved in separate files.
Therefore, we build modularly where possible and keep track of which source, language version and multimedia assets belong together.
Maxcademy can also remain involved after delivery with new language versions, content updates, voice-over, subtitles, QA and republishing in the LMS.
The language versions can be delivered in your existing LMS
Do you already have a learning environment? Then we will develop and publish the content for that. Depending on the LMS, language versions can be offered as separate modules or within a multilingual structure.
We can deliver content as SCORM/xAPI or work directly in the learning environment and test the technical functionality.
Maxcademy Learn is available when there is no suitable LMS yet, but it is not a requirement for our content production.
Internationally without LMS lock-in
Use your existing platform or let us help with a suitable learning environment.
Frequently asked questions about multilingual e-learning
Yes. We can analyse existing modules and produce language versions. We look not only at text but also at voice-over, subtitles, images, animation, interactions, and LMS settings.
Translating focuses on accurately conveying the meaning. Localising goes further and also takes into account terminology, examples, tone of voice, layout, and the context of the local audience.
Yes. Voice-over, stemcasting, recording, audio editing and subtitling can be part of the multilingual production.
Yes. We develop a lot of e-learning in Articulate Rise and can build, manage and publish separate language versions for the LMS.
Where relevant, we work with a terminology list and have sector-specific concepts validated by subject matter or local experts.
Yes. Language versions can be published as SCORM/xAPI for a suitable existing LMS or placed directly in the learning environment.
That depends on the amount of text, the number of videos and animations, voice-over, subtitling, interactions and the desired review procedure. We therefore estimate extra languages based on the existing master and the scope per language.
We advise working from a clear master version and version control. When changes occur, it can then be determined which text, media and technical assets need to be adjusted and published again in each language.
Do you want to roll out one training professionally into multiple languages?
Tell us what master content already exists, which languages are needed and where the learners will be taking the training.
We assist with the complete chain: Learning Design, translation, localisation, multimedia, language QA, project management and LMS delivery.
Discuss your multilingual e-learningInternational learning without loss of quality
One didactic basis, professionally localised for the people who need to work with it.