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[Bug 1955584] [NEW] Support language learners in understanding what langstrings mean

 

Public bug reported:

It is possible to install language packs in Mahara and display the
infrastructure, i.e. help files, descriptions, menu, error messages etc.
in the chosen language. This is great for those fluent in the language,
but not necessarily for those that are learning the language who could
benefit from some assistance when they want to learn rather than always
having to revert to the 'easier' language where they can understand
more. By switching back to the default language, they may not go back to
the language they are learning.

Chris Cormack at Catalyst brought this up in a conversation with me: It
would be great if learners could switch to te reo (or any language other
than English) but get some help for words or phrases in error messages
etc. that they don't yet know. That would aid in their learning and
comprehension rather than only using English.

He pointed to https://tehiku.nz/te-reo/te-reo-o-te-kainga/5439/he-
kumara-he-kai-he-kainga as an example of where words are highlighted in
a video transcript that then start the video at that point and have an
explanation on the side.

Thinking for Mahara, translating individual words may not be so good as
their meaning could change depending on the context. Since we have an
entire string (word, short phrase or sentence or an entire paragraph)
available in English, we could offer to display that if a learner would
like to see a translation.

They could hover over text (that doesn't already have an action such as
a menu item or button) and see the translation. In their preferences,
they would define whether they wanted to see translations and if so, in
which language. That way, you could have a German living in Aotearoa
where the site is in English, but the German and te reo language packs
are available as well. Thus, the German learner could display the site
in te reo but decide that any translation tips would be displayed in
German as they are more comfortable reading more complex concepts in
German rather than English. When they hover over a description in te
reo, the German description is displayed.

This would also need to work on click / press for mobile or a way be
found so that learners using mobile devices can access this feature as
well.

However, displaying translation advice is not mandatory.

We'd need to think carefully about other interactions such as links,
hovers, menus etc. and decide whether we can offer translations for all
items or only for specific ones (initially) to avoid double actions.

** Affects: mahara
     Importance: Wishlist
         Status: Triaged


** Tags: translations

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1955584

Title:
  Support language learners in understanding what langstrings mean

Status in Mahara:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  It is possible to install language packs in Mahara and display the
  infrastructure, i.e. help files, descriptions, menu, error messages
  etc. in the chosen language. This is great for those fluent in the
  language, but not necessarily for those that are learning the language
  who could benefit from some assistance when they want to learn rather
  than always having to revert to the 'easier' language where they can
  understand more. By switching back to the default language, they may
  not go back to the language they are learning.

  Chris Cormack at Catalyst brought this up in a conversation with me:
  It would be great if learners could switch to te reo (or any language
  other than English) but get some help for words or phrases in error
  messages etc. that they don't yet know. That would aid in their
  learning and comprehension rather than only using English.

  He pointed to https://tehiku.nz/te-reo/te-reo-o-te-kainga/5439/he-
  kumara-he-kai-he-kainga as an example of where words are highlighted
  in a video transcript that then start the video at that point and have
  an explanation on the side.

  Thinking for Mahara, translating individual words may not be so good
  as their meaning could change depending on the context. Since we have
  an entire string (word, short phrase or sentence or an entire
  paragraph) available in English, we could offer to display that if a
  learner would like to see a translation.

  They could hover over text (that doesn't already have an action such
  as a menu item or button) and see the translation. In their
  preferences, they would define whether they wanted to see translations
  and if so, in which language. That way, you could have a German living
  in Aotearoa where the site is in English, but the German and te reo
  language packs are available as well. Thus, the German learner could
  display the site in te reo but decide that any translation tips would
  be displayed in German as they are more comfortable reading more
  complex concepts in German rather than English. When they hover over a
  description in te reo, the German description is displayed.

  This would also need to work on click / press for mobile or a way be
  found so that learners using mobile devices can access this feature as
  well.

  However, displaying translation advice is not mandatory.

  We'd need to think carefully about other interactions such as links,
  hovers, menus etc. and decide whether we can offer translations for
  all items or only for specific ones (initially) to avoid double
  actions.

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