1. Interact globally.
Communicate locally.
Partner confidently.
Localizing eLearning Content into
Foreign Languages:
Linguistic and Cultural Challenges
Linguistic and Cultural Challenges
August 16, 2012

2.  Ralph Strozza: Ralph is the President and CEO of Interpro Translation Solutions, which he
co‐founded in 1995. Ralph received B.S. degrees in Marketing and French and a minor in
Spanish from Northern Illinois University in 1981, and received his M.A. in French and
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Italian from Northwestern University in 1983. He has been involved in the translation
industry in a variety of roles since 1982, working for companies such as Worldwide
Communications Corporation, TAO International S.A., Intergraph Corporation, and System
Software Associates before starting Interpro.
 S. Mitchell Donaldson: Mitch is a Project Manager with Interpro Translation Solutions. He
received a B.A. in East Asian Languages (Mandarin Chinese) from Indiana University and
in 2001, Mitch accepted his first position in the translation and localization industry with
Interpro as an Account Executive. After a stint as a paralegal, Mitch received his
Interpro as an Account Executive After a stint as a paralegal Mitch received his
Certificate in Software Localization from the University of Washington and, in 2012,
returned to Interpro as a Project Manager. Mitch's main client, Armstrong International,
produces eLearning content created in Articulate and Camtasia.
August 16, 2012

3.  Headquarters: Lisle, Illinois
 Satellite offices: California, Argentina, People s Republic of China
Satellite offices: California Argentina People’s Republic of China
 Worldwide network of strategic partners
 Initially founded to serve the niche market of AS/400
Initially founded to serve the niche market of AS/400
translation/localization
 Grew into a multiple language/multiple platform full service
provider
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August 16, 2012

4.  Write content for eLearning material with the intention of
translating it to one or more foreign languages
translating it to one or more foreign languages
 Be more aware of cultural considerations that will impact its
acceptance by a non‐U.S. audience
 Take advantage of settings in Articulate to "pre‐translate"
navigation functions
 Anticipate and resolve issues related to creating foreign language
Anticipate and resolve issues related to creating foreign language
eLearning content
 Understand the individual components involved in the creation of
multilingual eLearning content
August 16, 2012

5.  Linguistic and cultural themes to produce multilingual eLearning
content
 How Translation Memory (TM) technology improves translation
consistency and quality
 Using Articulate, Captivate, Camtasia and Flash in conjunction with
U i A ti l t C ti t C t i d Fl h i j ti ith
TM tools
 How to resolve display issues in languages that do not use a Roman
alphabet in modules created in these software suites
August 16, 2012

6. PeopleSoft‐based modules localization training courses
developed in Captivate (Canadian French)
developed in Captivate (Canadian French)
Video training for First Aid/CPR course developed in Flash
(Spanish for the USA)
(Spanish for the USA)
e‐Learning courses to train clients and staff worldwide
through their “Armstrong University” portal developed in
Articulate (Simplified Chinese)
Data Privacy and Code of Conduct CBT modules for internal
staff education developed in Flash and ActionScript
(Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish)
(Dutch French German Portuguese Spanish)
August 16, 2012

7.  Short/concise sentences
 Reduce the likelihood of phrases becoming
Reduce the likelihood of phrases becoming
convoluted in translation
 Also because some languages “grow” or
“shrink”
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16. US = OK
Brazil = Not OK
France = “Zero” or “Worthless”
China, Japan, Korea = Money
China Japan Korea = Money
August 16, 2012

17. Incorrect
Correct
Remember: In‐Country Reviewers (ICRs)
can guide you!
August 16, 2012

18.  Use terms consistently – especially for
companies with internally used vocabulary or
companies with internally‐used vocabulary or
specializing in a highly technical field – helps
with glossary development and overall quality
with glossary development and overall quality
August 16, 2012

19. SDL Trados Studio Translation Memory (TM) tools are used to create
and maintain Translation Memories (TMs)
 What is a TM tool? ‐ TM tools are a suite of core software components –
namely translation memories (TMs) and terminology management
namely translation memories (TMs) and terminology management
programs ‐ that assist human translators by analyzing source files for
repetitive content, storing repetitive content, and returning translated
material in the same file format and structure as the original source.
material in the same file format and structure as the original source.
 What are TMs? – A component of TM tools that stores previously translated
segments (per language) and as a result, saves translators from having to re‐
translate repetitive content and provides partial translations of fuzzy
translate repetitive content and provides partial translations of “fuzzy”
match content.
 What do source file analyses look like?
 What are “fuzzy” matches?
August 16, 2012

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24. August 16, 2012

25.  Glossary Development
 Translating and professionally recording the script and/or content, as well as
g p y g p / ,
desktop publishing/graphics localization of images, into Simplified Chinese
 Syncing voice with animation – could change due to syntax/grammar
 Insertion of translated content and localized graphics/Flash files into Articulate
Insertion of translated content and localized graphics/Flash files into Articulate
Engage files
 Insertion of localized Articulate screens into translated PowerPoint files
 Performing QA checks of the Chinese courses to ensure animation is “in sync”
P f i QA h k f h Chi i i i “i ”
with the English language courses
 Executing final QA prior to posting on the Armstrong University web portal
August 16, 2012

26.  SDL Trados Studio has filters for PowerPoint, but not for Articulate
(and thus involves a lot of cutting and pasting)
(and thus involves a lot of cutting and pasting)
 Localization of graphics/Flash files
 Display issues
August 16, 2012

27.  Prepare files for translation – Create Word files for cutting and
pasting into Articulate. There is a different process to prepare Flash
pasting into Articulate. There is a different process to prepare Flash
files:
 In Flash, textual content can be:
1. within a symbol
2. within ActionScript
3. within a graphic
g p
4. within an external file (i.e. xml, txt, JavaScript , etc.)
August 16, 2012

28.  In Flash CS4 or lower, the native .fla file is proprietary and the Flash
application is needed to open and edit the .fla file.
application is needed to open and edit the .fla file.
 Third party applications (like SDL Trados) can't work with the
proprietary .fla format. The translatable content is “trapped“ in the
Flash file, thus leaving no easy way to round‐trip any text for
translation.
 It becomes a manual export and import process and depending on
It becomes a manual export and import process and depending on
the amount of content, this step alone could add up to a lot of
time.
August 16, 2012

29.  In Flash CS5/CS5.5, Adobe made two changes that
simplified the file preparation process:
1. They introduced the XFL file format.
2. The .fla file format became no longer proprietary.
 The XFL file format is a way to represent a Flash
Professional document as an open XML‐based
structure of folders and files.
 The new native .fla file is just a zipped up version of
the XFL structure.
August 16, 2012

30.  Using the XFL format, the Flash
content is already in a plain text
format (xml).
 The xml files are used as an
interchange format and
g
imported into SDL Trados for
translation.
 Files translated in SDL Trados
Files translated in SDL Trados
are exported back as xml files
and then copied to the XFL
structure.
August 16, 2012

31.  File preparation process flow:
source language files • Flash, Captivate, InDesign, FrameMaker....
interchange format • xml, idml, mif...
translation • sdlxliff (file format for SDL Trados Studio)
interchange format
te c a ge o at • xml, idml, mif...
, ,
target language files • Flash, Captivate, InDesign, FrameMaker...
August 16, 2012

32.  Change main
Change main
interface and menu
items to Chinese
(multiple languages
(multiple languages
are available in
Articulate)
August 16, 2012

33.  Change interaction
Change interaction
fonts to “SimHei”
August 16, 2012

34.  Slide Properties:
Slide Properties:
cut and paste
translations of
PowerPoint titles
P P i t titl
August 16, 2012

35.  Localize Engage
and QuizMaker
files content
 Insert previously
localized Flash
files
 Set font to
“SimHei”
August 16, 2012

36.  Numbers and
Roman script:
oftentimes look
oftentimes look
better in Arial
August 16, 2012

37.  Manually change
Manually change
QuizMaker font
in “Slide View” to
“SimHei”
“Si H i”
August 16, 2012

38.  Display issue:
Display issue:
After publication,
Internet Explorer
tab does not
t bd t
display properly
August 16, 2012

39.  Open
Open
“player.html”
in Notepad
p
August 16, 2012

40.  Paste course title over “garbage” characters under <TITLE>
August 16, 2012

41.  Issue resolved!
Issue resolved!
 Finished product example…
Fi i h d d t l
August 16, 2012

42. August 16, 2012

43.  Armstrong ADAM (“Armstrong Digital Account Management”) is an internally
used customer relationship management (or CRM) where users can search and
access new and prospective client data, track sales, and view sales
opportunities.
 Interpro localized the seven English language ADAM tutorials to Simplified
Interpro localized the seven English‐language ADAM tutorials to Simplified
Chinese (Mandarin) for Armstrong’s China‐based business development staff on
how to easily and efficiently access and update account, contact, opportunity
and activity information.
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 ADAM was produced with Camtasia – a software suite that has the ability to
integrate voice with on‐screen mouse movements and to record PowerPoint
presentations (along with moving graphics).
presentations (along with moving graphics)
August 16, 2012

44.  No Glossary Development (the module itself had previously been localized)
 Translate and professionally record the script and callouts for each tutorial into
Translate and professionally record the script and callouts for each tutorial into
Simplified Chinese.
 Integrate the recorded Chinese screen captures from the (already localized)
Chinese version of ADAM with the Mandarin Chinese narration.
Chi i f ADAM ith th M d i Chi ti
 Encode seven .mp4 versions in Chinese (one for each tutorial) for web viewing.
 Perform QA checks of the Chinese courses to ensure screen movements and
P f QA h k f h Chi d
narration are “in sync”.
August 16, 2012

45.  Review script for culturally relevant (and/or irrelevant ) content and make
applicable changes (such as suggesting removal of login instructions for
European and Indian users) prior to translation.
 Largely a manual process – synchronizing the Chinese narration with screen
actions involves multiple reviews of English language versions (and takes ) in
actions involves multiple reviews of English language versions (and “takes”) in
order to best duplicate a mirror‐image version in Chinese.
 Finished product example…
August 16, 2012

46. August 16, 2012

47. Thank you for attending this presentation!
Please visit our booth in the Exhibit area!
Interpro Translation Solutions, Inc.
4200 Commerce Court, Suite 204
4200 Commerce Court Suite 204
Lisle, IL 60532 USA
Website: www.interproinc.com
Mitch Donaldson, Project Manager
Telephone: 630.245.7189 (direct)
E‐mail: mdonaldson@interproinc.com
Ralph Strozza, President and CEO
Telephone: 630.245.7177 (direct)
E‐mail: rstrozza@interproinc.com
August 16, 2012