Localization overview

Understanding localization vs translation

Translation is the process of converting text from one language to another, word-for-word.

Localization goes beyond translation—it adapts your content to fit the cultural context, conventions, and expectations of a specific locale (language + region combination).

Example: Translation vs localization

Translation (English → Spanish):

• Title: "Product Returns & Refund Policy" → "Devoluciones de Productos y Política de Reembolsos"
• Quiz question: "How long do customers have to return a product?" → "¿Cuánto tiempo tienen los clientes para devolver un producto?"
• Simple word-for-word conversion

Localization (English → Spanish for Mexico):

• Title: Stays "Devoluciones de Productos y Política de Reembolsos"
• But adapts the content:
  • Currency: "$50 refund" → "$1,000 MXN de reembolso" (converted and using local currency)
  • Date formats: "Submit by 12/01/2024" → "Presentar antes del 01/12/2024" (day-month-year format)
  • Legal references: "According to FTC regulations..." → "Según las regulaciones de PROFECO..." (Mexico's Federal Consumer Protection Agency)
  • Business days: "Ships within 5-7 business days" → "Se envía en 7-10 días hábiles" (accounting for local shipping times)
  • Cultural examples: Replace "Black Friday return policy" → "El Buen Fin return policy" (Mexico's major shopping event in November)
  • Payment methods: Add "OXXO, Mercado Pago, y transferencia bancaria" instead of only showing "PayPal or credit card"
  • Tone adjustment: Use "usted" (formal) instead of "tú" (informal) for professional customer service contexts
  • Time zones: "Available 9 AM - 5 PM EST" → "Disponible 8 AM - 4 PM Hora del Centro de México"

Why this matters: A customer service representative in Mexico will now see training that reflects their actual tools, regulations, payment systems, and customer expectations—not just translated words from a US-centric course. This makes the training immediately actionable and relevant to their daily work.

Interface and content

In Qurioos, both your interface (buttons, menus, navigation) and your content (subjects, courses, quizzes) use the same locales. This means:

• When you activate Spanish for your academy, the interface AND your content can be in Spanish
• The interface is pre-translated by Qurioos, but your course content requires translation.
• Until you translate your courses, all users will see your content in your primary language (for example English), even if they're using the Spanish interface.

Localization steps

Step 1 | Activate Locales: Settings → Localization → Select the locales you want → Click save and the interface instantly updates but ⚠️ your courses stay in the primary language until translated.

Step 2 | Translate Courses: Subjects → Select Subject → "Localize Subject" → Choose locales → Answer context questions → "Start translation".

Step 3 | Review & Publish: Receive email (typically iwithin 5 min) → Review → Edit if needed.

✅ The course now available in the new locale.