"Learning is one of the most culturally sensitive of human activities."(Transware, multilingual e-Learning.pdf)
The article highlights some of the major problems that arise when training crosses the cultural and national borders. It also describes how companies and corporations usually transition their e-training courses and how Transware services their clients.
- Language is obviously the #1 difference when e-training goes global.
Many languages do not translate directly word for word from English. One has to always strip the core message from the sentences and then find the best way to express the same idea in the other language. I have tons of personal experiences with this, as my native language is Finnish and submerging in the English-speaking world was and still is an interesting process.
With the language differences many little things are different: Even the size of the text boxes have to be changed according to the length of the language.
-Cultural differences are also a major obstacle in global e-Learning.
EX. A course developed in American cultural context might not deliver the same increase in knowledge when delivered in some other culture, as it might not be appropriate, accepted or understood in the manner it was meant. Graphics, simulations, games and activities that might work brilliantly in one country might be viewed as indifferent or even offensive in others.
The article explains how companies usually develop the course with one language and culture in mind and then as the content translation time comes, the required modifications and alterations turn out extremely time consuming and costly. Transware advertises itself as a e-Learning provider that includes the multicultural aspect throughout the supply chain.
This was an extremely interesting find for me and I think I will check out Transware as I will start searching for internships!
Link to the article:
http://www.transware.com/whitepapers/multiling_elearn.aspx
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment