2020 pushed e-learning to
the mainstage. 

As restrictions of
movements and lockdowns became the order of the day due to the pandemic,
everyday life, which included education and learning, was affected. 

In a bid to navigate the
times, e-learning became the natural alternative. So more individuals and
institutions began to adopt virtual platforms and digital resources to
facilitate the learning process.

2021 is here, and vaccines roll-out are
occurring simultaneously across the globe. As the world gradually
returns to normal, e-learning looks like it is here to stay due to its numerous
benefits. 

But organizations, in the
process of passing across learning materials, must account for the diversity of
their audience, which is where LSP’s and the translation industry come in.

This post looks at the
current trend of e-learning and how translation services are required to
enhance the learning experience.

Overview of the
e-learning sector

E-learning may be a
buzzword today, but it has definitely been around for a few decades. Its root
goes back to the 1980s from the advent of Macintosh personal computers. 

As internet penetration
increased, educational institutions and businesses gradually began to use this
learning format to reach a wider audience and break geographical barriers.

The e-learning segment
had an upward growth trajectory even before the pandemic. The Docebo 2017 survey estimated the global
market size for e-learning to be $165 Billion in 2015 and projected growth to
$240 Billion by 2023.

But the coming of the
global pandemic took it to another level. 

Recent data estimates the global
market size to be $375 Billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 32.1%.

While students and workers
stayed at home to maintain social distance, organizations sought creative ways
to disseminate knowledge. Online learning platforms like; Udemy and Coursera
began witnessing a surge in users, and at the same time, the use of learning
management systems is also on the rise. 

What is e-learning?

Before we go any further,
let us actually clear the air on what exactly e-learning is.

E-learning is exactly
what its name is; learning electronically. Which can either be via the
internet, video, or audio platforms. 

It comes in various
forms. E-learning may be fixed or adaptive, synchronous, asynchronous, linear,
interactive, and many more. 

There is no fixed medium
for transmitting informational content. It could be through video conferencing,
pre-recorded content, an online chat system, and whatnot. 

At the heart of it all,
e-learning relies heavily on the internet to convey most of the information
between both parties involved.

Adopting a virtual form
of learning has many perks. We can start with cost savings in its deployment. One stands to save up to
70% in costs. By deploying e-learning as against the convention learning
system. Besides the financial gain, e-learning has better knowledge retention,
is scalable, has a broader reach, and is easily personalized to cater to the
unique needs of its audience. 

How does translation
affect e-learning?

Where does e-learning
intersect with translation? What is the relationship between these two? 

Well, the answer lies in
personalization. 

It is safe to assume that
due to globalization, the beneficiaries of some of these learning programs may
have different cultural backgrounds.

Since people learn faster
in languages they are more familiar with, it makes a lot of sense for learning
materials to be in the target audience’s native language.

This is where translation
and localization services come into the fray. Translation enhances learning by
helping overcome language barriers. So, translation agencies have to work
alongside e-learning service providers to deliver a seamless multilingual
learning experience for participants.

Translation agencies are
tasked with the translation and localization of media content (video subtitles
or voice-overs), the user interface of e-learning software, help files,
graphical user materials, course documents, and many more.

At the core, Translated
materials need to be apparent to all. It also needs to be accurate to ensure
that no information is lost during translation and that all learning objectives
are fulfilled.

Conclusion

The pandemic may have
laid the foundation for the transition away from the traditional classroom
system, with e-learning becoming the future of learning. 

Since learning and
education are borderless, e-learning service providers must cater to diversity
and be inclusive while disseminating knowledge. Therefore, translation and
localization services have a vital role to play. 

At the same time,
translation services need to be capable of handling the needs of e-learning.
Translated materials need to be clear and concise while staying true to the
desired learning objectives.

TranslationsinLondon delivers translation and
localization of e-learning services for individuals and
organizations. With our dedicated specialists and professional linguists who
have vast experience across fields, we guarantee content that is of the highest
quality. Give us a call today or send a message to get started.