SafetyCulture
Last updated:

Manage multi-language courses

Learn how to manage multi-language courses via the web app.

How do multi-language courses work?

We understand that for a global organization, your staff might come from different backgrounds and speak different languages. With SafetyCulture, you can localize the training experience by adding translations to your courses, so your team members can take training in a language they're comfortable with.

Take a look at this example of a course being started in English and Spanish using the same content:

Please note that the Training feature is currently in Early Access. If you would like to sign up for Early Access, please register your interest, and our team will contact you.

What you'll need

Translate a course using AI

  1. Log in to the web app.

  2. Click Training iconTraining from the menu on the left-hand side and select Manage.

  3. Hover your cursor over the course and click Edit.

  4. Click Settings iconSettings on the lower-left of the page.

  5. In the pop-up window, select More.

  6. In this tab, ensure the course's actual language matches the current selection in "More: Course language". If not, click Change and update the language accordingly. The selected language of a training course.

  7. Click Plus iconNew translation. Then, select AI Translation and click Next.

  8. In the "Translate to" field, search and select the language you want to translate to. If you want to link the translated course to this original course, leave the box checked. If not, uncheck the box, and manage the translated course's assignment separately.

  9. Click Translate.

  10. Once the translation is complete, click Close to translate your course into another language or click View translated course to go to the translated course and publish it.

If you're translating your course using AI, we recommend that you review the content after the translation to make sure it's correct and accurately reflects your topic.

Translate a course manually

  1. Log in to the web app.

  2. Click Training iconTraining from the menu on the left-hand side and select Manage.

  3. Hover your cursor over the course and click Edit.

  4. Click Settings iconSettings on the lower-left of the page.

  5. In the pop-up window, select More.

  6. In this tab, ensure the course's actual language matches the current selection in "More: Course language". If not, click Change and update the language accordingly. The selected language of a training course.

  7. Click Download icon (EdApp)Download course content in "Overwrite course content" and open the downloaded file.

In the Excel file, you'll find the existing strings in your course in column A, with column B to be used for the translated strings.

For each string in column A, add the translation to the corresponding cell in column B. We recommend editing directly in Excel rather than copying and pasting from an external source.

Please take note of the following as you prepare your translations:

  • Enter translated strings as plain text, and don't use any Excel formulas.

  • Remove all formatting from your translation, including text color, borders, etc. Learn how to clear cells of formatting in Excel.

  • Retain any code or Markdown formatting from the original strings to ensure your translated courses are visually aligned, including <span>, ##, **text**, etc.

  1. Go back to the web app.

  2. In the tab, click Plus iconNew translation. Then, select Manual Translation and click Next.

  3. In the "Translate to" field, search and select the language your translated Excel file is in.

  4. In the "Upload Excel file" field, click Choose file and upload your Excel file.

  5. If you want to link the translated course to this original course, leave the box checked. If not, uncheck the box, and manage the translated course's assignment separately.

  6. Click Translate.

  7. Once the translation is complete, click Close to translate your course into another language or click View translated course to go to the translated course and publish it.

Now that your course is ready to be used in different languages, you can publish it and assign it to your team for them to take courses.

Limitations

  • Multi-language isn't supported for the following lesson types:

    • Discussion

    • Assignment

    • Meeting

  • If a translated version isn't linked to the original course, it'll appear separately from the original course in analytics.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on whether the translated course is linked to the original course or not.

  • Linked: If the translated course's language matches a user's language setting, the user will see the translated version instead of the original course.

  • Not linked: The translated course needs to be assigned manually for users to see a course in their preferred language.

If you're not sure whether the translated course is linked to the original course or not, you can go to either the translated or original version's course settings to find out.

No, you'll need to update the translated versions separately. Depending on how you translated the course, you can update the translated versions in two ways:

AI translation

  1. Go to the original course and unlink the translated version. Unlink a translated course from the original version via the web app.

  2. Follow this article's instructions to add a new translation using AI.

  3. Publish the new translated version. You may also want to unpublish the old translated version so it's removed from your team's assigned training.

Manual translation (text change only)

If you just updated text in the original course and haven't made any structural changes like adding or removing lessons or lesson slides, you can overwrite the translated version's content:

  1. Go to the original course.

  2. Click Download icon (EdApp)Download course content and open the downloaded file. Download the content of a training course as Excel via the web app.

  3. Follow this article's instructions to prepare the translations in the Excel file.

  4. Go to the translated version and overwrite the course content with the Excel file.

Manual translation (structural change)

If you've updated the original course structurally, including adding or removing lessons or lesson slides, you'll need to create a new translated version:

  1. Go to the original course and unlink the translated version. Unlink a translated course from the original version via the web app.

  2. Follow this article's instructions to add a new translation manually.

  3. Publish the new translated version. You may also want to unpublish the old translated version so it's removed from your team's assigned training.

Yes, you can link the translated version from the main course.

  1. Go to the main course and click Link iconLink an existing course. Link an existing course as a translated version via the web app.

  2. In the pop-up window, select the course and click Next.

  3. Confirm the language of the selected course and click Link iconLink This Course.

You'll need to ensure the translated version is unlinked from the original course and then assign the translated version to team members separately.

Unlink a translated course from the original version via the web app.

Need more help?
Email
Phone
Ask the community

Thank you for letting us know.

If you would like a reply from someone, please contact us atsupport@safetyculture.com.