When the world went online, so did learning. Globally, the most common response for remote learning during the pandemic was to move to online platforms. Today, the e-learning market is still booming.
However, companies need to think strategically to take their share of the market. We look at why e-learning localization is the key to success for e-learning in MENA.
What does e-learning look like in MENA?
MENA’s investment in e-learning might be somewhat lower than some regions, but that investment is set to rise steadily and consistently in the next decade. What’s more, impact of e-learning can already be seen clearly across the region. So, companies looking to expand into MENA could find themselves at an advantage by acting strategically.
There’s a buzz of activity in the sector already. In Saudi Arabia, the National Center for eLearning was founded as far back as 2005 and has recently partnered with international organizations such as Coursera and EdX.
In Egypt, the huge online Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EBK) is taking a role in the country’s strategy to become be in the top 30 for the quality of basic education.
Meanwhile, MENA has seen millions of dollars of investment in e-learning platforms, and Mastercard is also extending its e-learning Girls4Tech initiative in the region.
Why you need to think about e-learning localization for MENA
Companies hoping to roll out their materials or platforms across the region need to consider how to deliver quality to students and teachers alike. This means making sure that materials are accessible and clear in the learners’ own languages. E-learning translation takes care of this, converting texts into the new language.
However, e-learning translation doesn’t guarantee that materials will resonate with the students. Just because something is in your language, it doesn’t mean you’ll find it engaging. For this, companies need to turn to e-learning localization, the process of adapting content so that it is culturally and linguistically appropriate for a region.
Here are a few ways companies can benefit from e-learning localization.
- Engage the user
Learning materials that feel as though they were made for someone else aren’t engaging. They might include cultural references that don’t make sense in the target country, imagery that looks foreign, or units (e.g. measurements) that don’t match local formats.
At best, this will be off-putting, at worst these blunders can cause offense. Localization takes this into account to help your materials hold the user’s attention, stay appropriate, and deliver value.
- Optimize your technology
Localization covers a wide range of areas, including the more technical side of things. Imagine for example, that you translate the text on an e-learning page. The new text is in Arabic, which is read right to left. Does your website or platform support this? Is everything displayed correctly? Is your font clearly legible?
Likewise, the Arabic text might be longer or shorter than the original. How will you fill the blank space or accommodate extra characters?
E-learning localization specialists can help with this, taking into account the technical details so your platform or materials look their best.
- Keep your brand image consistent
Building a consistent image is key to brand recognition. But this doesn’t necessarily mean taking the same approach in each country. The key is to make sure your content resonates in the same way, which might mean making small or large changes to everything from colors to content on your platform, marketing materials, and communications.
Future Trans – Your e-learning localization specialist
At Future Trans, our team understands e-learning translation and localization. With in-depth industry knowledge and strict quality control processes, we’re on hand to transform your content for the MENA region.
Send us a message to find out how we can help with your project.
