Now that international teams are more common than ever, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver training that works for employees who speak different languages. Research suggests that employees actually take in—and remember—information up to 30% better when they’re learning in their own language. Still, plenty of companies hit roadblocks when it comes to translating their eLearning materials—it’s about much more than just swapping out words. As the global online education market barrels toward an estimated $585.48 billion by 2027, the demand for thorough, culturally attuned training solutions is reaching an all-time high.
Why Translating Your eLearning Content Isn’t Optional Anymore
More companies than ever are embracing distributed teams, with four times as many businesses ramping up their remote work options in 2024 as those scaling them back. With teams scattered across the globe, it’s only natural that a wide range of languages comes into play. Although just 16% of companies are now fully remote, even those with hybrid setups still need multilingual training to properly support their teams around the world.
Learning That Sticks
When employees can learn in their own language, they’re free to concentrate on the material itself instead of getting bogged down trying to translate as they go. That way, employees don’t have to waste mental energy trying to make sense of confusing words or ideas. So what happens? People not only understand the material more clearly—they’re also more engaged and remember what they’ve learned long after the training ends.
Making Workplaces Safer and Meeting Compliance Standards
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), language barriers play a role in about one out of every four workplace accidents. When companies offer training that’s easy to understand in every language, they not only make the workplace safer but also stay on the right side of regulations, no matter where they operate. That’s especially important for fields such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, where the legal rules are especially tough.
Getting Ahead in the Global Marketplace
Companies that prioritize multilingual eLearning put themselves ahead of the pack when it comes to drawing in talent from around the world. When job seekers notice that a company goes the extra mile to offer training in their native language, it sends a clear message: this organization truly values cultural awareness and is invested in helping its people grow.
Taking eLearning Translation Further: It’s About More Than Swapping Out Words
Translating eLearning content goes far beyond simply swapping out words. Let’s take a closer look at how you can reshape your training materials to truly connect with teams around the world.
Step 1: Review Your Content and Map Out Your Strategy
Start by taking a close look at your training library to figure out:
- Which courses should we translate first to meet our most urgent business needs
- Choose which languages to translate into by looking at your employees’ backgrounds and what your business actually requires
- Material that may require more than just translation—for instance, tweaks to fit local customs or cultural norms
- The types of technology and platforms you use can shape how the translation process unfolds
Here’s a tip: Tackle the basics first—like safety, compliance, and onboarding courses that everyone needs—before diving into more specialized training for individual departments.
Step 2: Get Your Files Ready and Pull Out the Text
Before you dive into translation, there’s some groundwork to cover first.
- Pull out any text that needs translating from your eLearning authoring tools—such as Articulate, Captivate, or Rise
- Look for any text hidden inside images, infographics, or interactive features
- Set up your files in a way that keeps everything organized and easy to understand for translators
- Make a note of the technical needs for each course—like whether it has to meet SCORM standards or work with your LMS
Step 3: Translating Your Content and Tailoring It for Local Audiences
Real localization isn’t just about translating words—it’s about making sure your content genuinely connects with every audience you’re trying to reach.
- Swap out cultural references, idioms, and real-life examples so they make sense to people in each region
- Update visuals so they actually represent the local culture and the diversity of the people you’re reaching
- Revise any test questions that could come across as culturally biased
- Make sure to adjust dates, measurements, and currencies so they match the way people in each region are used to seeing them
Step 4: Adapting Multimedia for Every Audience
Not everything can be handled the same way—each piece needs its own approach.
Choosing Between Voice-Over and Subtitles
Voice-overs offer a richer, more immersive feel, but they usually come with a steeper price tag—on average, about $150 per program, which is higher than the cost of subtitles. Think about what you want your training to achieve—and how much you’re able to spend—before choosing between the options.
- Have native speakers record the entire audio from start to finish
- Adding subtitles in other languages, but keeping the original audio track intact
- Options that let learners pick whichever format works best for them
Visuals and Interactive Features
- Swap out any text that’s built into images
- Tweak the layout so it still looks good when the text gets longer or shorter
- Tweak interactive features so they work smoothly no matter which language someone’s using
- Make separate versions of your charts and data visualizations for each language
Step 5: Bringing It All Together and Putting It to the Test
This is the stage where you make sure everything runs smoothly in every language.
- Add the translated pieces back into your eLearning platform
- Make sure every language version meets SCORM requirements
- Make sure to check that navigation, interactive features, and quizzes all work smoothly in every language
- Have a native speaker review the content to spot any errors that might slip through in context
- Double-check that everything looks correct when viewed in right-to-left languages such as Arabic or Hebrew
Step 6: Bringing Your Translated Training Live in the LMS
In the last stage, your translated content finally reaches your learners.
- Set up your Learning Management System so it can handle more than one language
- Let users pick their preferred language, or automatically offer options tailored to their profiles
- Set up a Translation Management System (TMS) that works seamlessly with your LMS, making updates faster and easier
- When you roll out each translated version, be sure to include the right metadata so people can easily find what they need
What to Keep in Mind When Translating More Complex Content
Handling Languages That Read Right to Left
Languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Urdu demand some extra care:
- Reverse the layout and navigation so they follow the direction people read in
- Tweak interactive features so they work smoothly when switched to right-to-left mode
- Be sure to test everything carefully, since a lot of eLearning platforms don’t offer robust built-in support for right-to-left languages
How to Keep Your Terminology Consistent: The Power of Bilingual Glossaries
Building bilingual glossaries tailored to your industry is key to keeping your translated content consistent every time.
- Jot down all the technical terms, product names, and any company lingo you come across
- Create a style guide tailored to every language you’re translating into
- Try using glossary generators—they’ll make the whole process a lot smoother
- Treat these resources as living documents—update and refine them as your training materials change and grow
How One Company Completely Revamped Its Global Safety Training
Faced with operations spread across a dozen countries, a global manufacturing company set out to bring consistency to its safety training for every facility. When they put a thorough eLearning translation strategy into action, here’s what happened:
- In just one year, workplace accidents dropped by 32%
- The number of employees finishing their compliance certifications jumped by 47%
- Employees reported a 28% boost in satisfaction with the quality of their training
The key to their success? They focused on getting both the language and the cultural details right, and paired that with smooth technical design so choosing your language felt effortless for every user.
How to Put an Efficient eLearning Translation Process into Action
When you build a streamlined, repeatable workflow, you not only save time—you also keep quality consistent no matter which language you’re working in.
1. Spell out each stage of the process and decide who’s responsible for what
- Instructional designers get the ball rolling by preparing the content
- Project managers keeping the translation process running smoothly
- Cultural adaptation handled by local experts who truly understand the region
- eLearning developers handle the technical side of things
- Quality checks carried out by native-speaking reviewers
2. Make smart use of technology where it counts
- Use translation memory tools so you’re not paying to translate the same material over and over again
- Let automated tools do the heavy lifting when it comes to spotting pesky formatting problems
- You might try using AI tools to create the first draft, then have a real person polish and perfect the translation
- Connect your LMS directly to your translation process so updates roll out smoothly, without any extra hassle
3. Make Quality Control a Top Priority
- Set up regular review points throughout the process, making sure native speakers are involved at each critical stage
- Before rolling everything out, try it with real users from the regions you’re targeting
- Keep track of feedback as you go—that way, you’ll have what you need to make your next project
- Tailor your quality standards to each region’s unique needs and regulations
Thinking about taking your global training to the next level?
Getting eLearning translation right takes more than just language skills—it requires a combination of linguistic expertise, instructional design, cultural understanding, and technical know-how. At Ladon Translation, we bring over 10 years of experience, with more than 3 million words translated and over 2,000 hours of meeting interpreting. We take a holistic approach to eLearning localization, making sure every linguistic, cultural, and technical detail is carefully considered.
Our approach includes:
- We bring hands-on experience from a range of industries—healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and financial services among them
- Experts who make sure your content genuinely connects with people in every market you’re targeting
- Technical specialists who make sure your training works smoothly—and stays SCORM compliant—no matter what language it’s in
- Workflows designed to move things along faster—without cutting corners on quality
Don’t let language get in the way of truly effective training. When you invest in professional eLearning translation, you’ll see the benefits ripple throughout your organization—from smoother compliance and better performance to a more engaged, connected global team.
