 9 Min. Read |
 Emily Sorrentino |
 April 15, 2024 |
Translation in the education sector is vast and varied. It extends beyond informational pages on school and college websites to encompass a wide range of materials, including e-learning portals, sales coaching resources, online courses, and other teaching materials.
By translating educational content, institutions can offer more inclusive, accessible learning experiences that cater to students, professionals, and lifelong learners across the globe.
Whether it’s an elementary school’s curriculum, a university’s online course catalog, or a corporation’s sales coaching program, making these resources available in multiple languages can dramatically increase their reach educational impact, and even increase revenue through more enrollment.
The education sector is becoming increasingly digital, with a diverse array of content covering a world of topics and interests. According to a report by Research and Markets, the e-learning market is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025, with a significant portion of this growth driven by the demand for accessible, localized content across different linguistic and cultural landscapes.
Since the internet became more accessible and formats like video allowed easier consumption, educators have taken advantage. For instance, YouTube has become a hub for subject-matter experts to create educational content that can be accessed worldwide.
More formally, e-learning portals now offer courses on everything from mathematics to marketing to art history. Online courses, traditionally confined to the language of the institution offering them, are now being translated to cater to international students, thereby expanding the institution’s reach and influence.
Teaching materials, once accessible only to those who spoke the language in which they were written, are now being made available in multiple languages, opening up opportunities for learners around the world.
Translating educational content into multiple languages is not just a logistical necessity; it’s a commitment to inclusivity. Data from UNESCO on global education indicates that there are over 1.5 billion students worldwide affected by school closures due to health crises.
This situation has amplified the need for accessible online education, further emphasizing the importance of translating and localizing educational resources. This approach not only broadens the educational opportunities available to students but also fosters a more inclusive learning environment that values diversity and global perspectives.
Localization goes beyond mere translation; it involves adapting content to reflect the cultural nuances and learning preferences of different regions. Additionally, the idea of “education localization” goes beyond just translating school websites.
While it’s extremely important to localize a college’s website, and allow for more diverse applicants, the actual learning process can often also be adapted for those learners. This process is crucial in making educational content not just understandable, but also relevant and engaging to learners from various cultural backgrounds.
For instance, examples used in teaching materials may be culturally adapted to resonate more effectively with students’ experiences, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention.
Another example is a site like LinkedIn offering training and certificate courses. These courses need to be accessible in multiple languages for people who want to take them globally.
A survey by the European Commission found that 82% of people were more likely to use a digital product if it was available in their own language. This preference for localized content highlights its importance in creating effective and engaging learning experiences.
The translation of educational content on non-traditional platforms plays a critical role in democratizing access to knowledge and professional development. It allows learners from different parts of the world to engage with and benefit from resources that were previously inaccessible due to language barriers.
This accessibility is not just about understanding the content; it’s about connecting with it in a way that feels natural and engaging, which is only possible when the material speaks directly to the learner’s linguistic and cultural context.
Furthermore, the process of translating these resources goes beyond merely converting text from one language to another. It involves a comprehensive approach that includes cultural localization, ensuring that examples, idioms, and references are relevant and resonate with the audience.
This attention to detail is crucial in maintaining the effectiveness of the educational content, making sure that it is as impactful for a learner in Tokyo as it is for one in Toronto.
The complexity of education portals and applications makes it much harder to translate and localize them because of the coding of the software and other design elements. It’s also difficult because of the constant updates and new information added almost daily.
A server-based proxy ensures seamless integration with your existing digital infrastructure. This approach not only guarantees unparalleled security and flexibility but also specializes in handling the complexities of portal translation. It ensures that your portals are accurately translated while also remaining aligned with real-time content changes and updates—eliminating the need for manual intervention.
These tools can adapt to the specific linguistic nuances and cultural contexts of target languages, which is especially crucial in the education sector where accuracy and relevance are paramount.
The primary benefit of using AI translation lies in its ability to streamline the translation process. It reduces costs and optimizes the quality of your translation on the most important content assets.
Traditional translation methods can be time-consuming and costly, often requiring significant human resources to manage updates and maintain accuracy. MotionPoint and similar platforms automate much of this process using machine learning, creating a consist brand voice and saving money through past translations.
Furthermore, these technologies enable scalability. As educational institutions or platforms grow and evolve, adding new content or courses, translation technologies can effortlessly keep pace with these changes, providing continuous localization across all content. This scalability is vital for maintaining the relevance and accessibility of educational materials in a global context.
MotionPoint also uses human post-editing with AI translation if needed to ensure the absolute best quality possible.
The role of technology in translating and localizing educational content cannot be overstated. Education sites and portals are revolutionizing how information can be accessed.
By leveraging localization, educators can ensure that their materials are not only accurate and culturally relevant but also continually updated to reflect the latest knowledge and insights.
In doing so, they pave the way for a more inclusive, accessible, and effective global education system. Learn how to get started today.
