No Spanish? ¡No Problemo! Building Bilingual eLearning with AI Tools

The Beatles and Elvis singing a duo? Deepfake makes it happen!

After seeing a recent security advisory on deepfake scams from the FBI/CISA/NSA, a lightbulb went off: I've never seen bilingual versions of these advisories. Knowing how many workers worldwide could be impacted, I thought, why not change that?

So, I embarked on a project to develop an eLearning module available in both Spanish and English. One tiny challenge though... no hablo español (I don't speak Spanish!). But with my growing collection of AI tools, I figured I could piece together something professional and helpful.

The Challenge: More Than Just Translation

The goal was simple: teach employees about deepfake scams in a way that was:

• Quick and engaging: Short, snackable content for busy workers.

• Informative: Clear explanations of deepfakes and how scams work.

• Actionable: Guidance on recognizing and avoiding scams.

• Bilingual: Accessible to both English and Spanish speakers.

The Solution: AI to the Rescue

To tackle this, I combined instructional design principles with the power of AI:

1. Video First: Using InVideo and Lumen5, I created a short video demonstrating how a deepfake could create Elvis and the Beatles singing a duet. This was the attention-grabbing hook for learners.

2. Modular Design: With Gamma, I designed a clean, aesthetically pleasing module, exporting it to PowerPoint for animations and narration.

3. AI Narration: eLeven Labs provided English and (thanks to Google Translate) Spanish narration. Canva helped quickly convert the slide deck to Spanish.

4. Accessibility: YouTube auto-generated closed captions in both languages.

The Toolkit: My AI Dream Team

• Gamma:  For creating slick, professional presentations.

• Lumen5: Transformed scripts into eye-catching videos.

• Invideo: Helped brainstorm the initial video script.

• Canva: A lifesaver for quick Spanish slide deck translations.

• eLeven Labs: Text-to-speech in multiple languages, perfect for narration.

• Happyscribe:  Closed captions made easy.

Instructional Design Foundations (geek out on the ID details here)

The module was built on solid instructional design principles:

• Mager's Learning Outcomes: Clear, measurable goals.

• Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction: Engaging learners and reinforcing knowledge.

• Mayer's 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning: Combining visuals and narration effectively.

The Result: ¡Éxito!

The final product was a bilingual module that could be used independently or as part of a larger training program. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, especially from the Spanish-speaking learners who appreciated having this information available in their language.

Key Takeaways

• AI is a game-changer: It enables rapid content creation, even for those who aren't bilingual.

• Instructional design still matters:  AI is a tool, not a replacement for thoughtful design.

• Accessibility is key:  Providing content in multiple languages reaches a wider audience.

If you're looking to create engaging, effective, and multilingual eLearning, AI can be a powerful ally.  No hablo español?  No problem!