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UWashingtonX: Introduction to Internationalization and Localization

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The first MOOC to teach internationalization and localization end to end. Learn how a digital product needs to be designed to be world-ready and how it is getting adapted to the needs of all its international target markets. This introductory course covers all the basics!

Introduction to Internationalization and Localization
6 weeks
2–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived

About this course

Skip About this course

Are you a developer who wants to understand how their software can get released internationally, without their source code having to be altered? Or are you a PM responsible for launching a website across different markets? Or someone who is just curious to understand how digital products can be launched worldwide and in various languages? Then this is the course for you!

In this introduction to internationalization and localization you will learn

  • Why it makes sense to release an app or a site outside of its original market in the first place
  • What markets to cover first, for example those that have specific legal requirements around availability of a particular language
  • The basic concepts and key terms of the industry: for example, how using Unicode and considering different time formats are both part of internationalization, how adapting the user interface of a software application is part of localization and what resource files have to do with localizability
  • The different types of international releases and their specific challenges
  • The different localization methods
  • The history of the industry and important trends
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Localization sourcing models, including outsourcing to so-called language service providers
  • How to work successfully in the very international localization industry

At a glance

  • Institution: UWashingtonX
  • Subject: Computer Science
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites:

    Knowledge of another language than English can be helpful but is not required.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Localization, User Interface, Curiosity, Resource Files, Sourcing, Target Market, Outsourcing

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Basic concepts
  • The case for internationalization and localization
  • Types of releases
  • Different localization methods
  • The history of localization
  • Current trends in the industry
  • Roles and responsibilities in localization
  • Sourcing models, like in-house localization vs. outsourcing
  • Cross-group and intercultural communication

This course is part of Internationalization and Localization Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
3 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
2 - 5 hours per week

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