Institut TA – Learning Together Project
The Learning Together Project was an initiative led by the Institut des troubles d’apprentissage (Institut TA) proposing 260 activities for parents of children with learning difficulties or disorders to help them learn to read and write.
An activity on learning sight words.
Each activity, developed by an educational specialist, proposed a scenario with a specific learning objective, such as learning how to decode words syllable by syllable, follow spelling rules, or recognize sight words.
The Problem
As French and English have their own grammar and spelling rules, the strategies proposed in French did not always work in English. Certain activities also proposed examples that could not be literally translated into English due to the fact that some words have multiple meanings in each language. In these cases, we were required to develop examples in English from scratch.
Due to a low working knowledge of English, the learning specialists who developed the activities were also unable to confirm the translations proposed, specifically for technical concepts. In those cases, research and a context analysis was required to ensure that each concept and term were properly translated.
An example of a learning activity requiring adaptation into English due to the fact that French and English have different syllables.
As the goal of the project was to help children learn to read and write in both French and English, our client’s aim was to adapt each activity to make it relevant in English. Moreover, each activity needed to be impeccable when it came to grammar and spelling to ensure that the activities were teaching children proper English.
As an additional measure, a second translator collaborated on each activity to verify the examples and explanations provided in English. This involved revising the text for clarity, checking grammar rules and ensuring the proper technical terms were being used. As the client was unable to definitively confirm if a translation was correct, a final review in English became necessary to ensure that the translation was 100% accurate and ready to use.
The Solution
We successfully adapted each of the 260 activities, pointing out areas that required adaptation to the client to ensure that they were aware of the changes, and indicating sources that confirmed our word choices when it came to technical concepts.
The Outcome
While revision by a second translator is a standard practice in the field of translation, the final review step was unanticipated but necessary due to the complexity of the project. Realizing that the client was unable to verify certain translations, the review step ensured that each example provided in English was correct and relevant.
My team and I had the pleasure of working with Natalie on a large-scale project. She was committed, attentive, and highly efficient. Even after the project was completed, she remained available to answer our questions and offer her support. Working with her was a true pleasure!
~ Laurence Arcouette, Learning Specialist, Institut des troubles d'apprentissage