Build a Global Workforce with Multi Language LMS

Owing to the rapid developments and increased competition in today’s corporate world, more and more companies are choosing to blur geographical boundaries and go global. Considering this it comes as no surprise that workforces are also becoming increasingly diverse and multicultural.

So naturally, companies are jumping at the opportunity to have a multilingual workforce as this not only vastly increases their reach but also helps the company grow to be more in tune with the business cultures of locations other than their own.

In the world of eLearning, taking this multilingual factor into consideration is very crucial. E-learning localization and the use of a multi language LMS are tools that give the company the support that it needs to ensure that all its employees, no matter where they may be in the world, are receiving the equal amount of benefits and value from their e-learning courses.

So what is Elearning localization? It’s essentially the same as translation, right?

Wrong! While often used interchangeably, the two are still very different, especially when it comes to e-learning courses and LMS. Translation is the process of changing the words of the content from one language to another. It simply changes the content to the language of the targeted country. Now eLearning localization, on the other hand, takes translation a step further, and not only changes the words to the other language but also ensures that the content and the way it is delivered is adapted to the country it is being accessed in. Considering the vast cultural differences between countries, it is a much better move for companies to adapt localization rather than simply translating their courses as the eLearning content being provided has to be easily comprehensible by the target audience, in addition to being culturally appropriate to that specific region.

One of the best ways to adopt eLearning localization is to use a multi language LMS

• A multi lingual Learning Management System:

• It is a learning management system which not only has the courses translated into the language of a particular location but has adapted its interface to be more suitable to the users of that particular region.
• Ideally, a multi-language LMS should give the users the freedom to choose their language (which includes the content, the database, notifications, etc) as well as change the location, date & time settings to their region.
• Using a multi-language LMS is beneficial to the company, particularly one that has a global workforce, as it helps to bridge communication gaps and eliminate language barriers, ensuring that the entire company is working as one global unit, with all the employees standing on an equal level.

Let’s take a look at some additional benefits of a multi lingual LMS:

•  The multi language Learning Management System offers the ability to switch to any language of the user’s choice.
• In a multi lingual LMS, not just the content, but the entire interface of the system is translated, so users can easily follow instructions or navigate through the system.

• There is a choice to set the native language as the default language.

• All certifications and feedbacks are translated so that the employees are on the same page as the management and there is no language barrier hindering performance and evaluation.
• A multi lingual LMS is particularly helpful for users who speak non-traditional right to left languages like Arabic or Hebrew.

Before signing off, here are some helpful tips for a Successful Multi Language LMS:

• Conduct thorough research on the language preferences, cultural backgrounds, and needs of your global workforce to ensure that your multi language LMS is able to meet all their requirements suitably
• Make your courses easily accessible and easy to translate to other languages to provide equal benefits to the global workforce

• Offer the freedom to select any language of choice to the users of the multi language LMS.
• Ensure that not only is all the data and the interface suitably translated but is also adapted to be more culturally appropriate to the specific region it is being used in. This can include course layout, themes, navigation icons, and all other aspects of the multi language LMS.