Plain Language Academies
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Welcome to the Plain Language Academies
English: Plain Language AcademyFrench: Academie Clair et SimpleSpanish: Academia de Lenguaje ClaroWe created the PlainLanguageAcademies.org to help you create clear messages for people who need to find what they want, access information easily, understand content, and act on messages. We also designed the courses on plain language principles: important for the reader, easy to understand, efficient to navigate, and effective to turn into actions. Our goal is to continue to expand our course content, languages, and global access.We love how our students from all over the world demonstrate skills, interact, and give us feedback about our online, self-directed, instructor-supported courses. Join us for a great learning experience. Enhance existing skills or gain new ones, with a fresh, client-centred approach. Enjoy the feeling of writing cleaner, clearer, more accessible communications.Our professional team of instructors are help as work through this online course. Advanced courses include a live session. Discussions connect you with other learners. Join our online learning community.Our mission
We strive to keep our courses simple and satisfying.
We endorse these practices:- Put the reader first to enhance accessibility.
- Clarify the purpose to ensure expectations are met.
- Actively listen to audiences and stakeholders to gain deeper understanding of their needs.
- Follow guidelines and practices supported by research and experience.
- Practice empathy, compassion, and respect for clients and readers.
What's new in 2025Back by popular demand: The ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make it work for Organizations
New courses:
The ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make it work for Communicators
Designing for Digital AccessibilityConnecting with Citizens and other Stakeholders
AI for Writers
Get on our list: Email getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com to receive information about courses and registration dates.
Our full calendar
The Academy offers self-directed, instructor-supported online plain language courses. They are divided into two groups: Core and Advanced.Core courses introduce learners to:C1 Plain Language Basics
C2 Audience Awareness
C3 Plain Language Writing and Editing.Available with a discount when all three are registered at same time.
Advanced courses are grouped into four categories (Professional, Strategy, Digital, Legal) based on key topics of interest, including:A1 Create Clear E-contentA2 Editing for Plainer Legal WritingA3 Plain Language 2.0 and Health LiteracyA4 Connecting With Citizens and other StakeholdersA5 Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic PriorityA6 Focus on FeedbackA7 Designing for Digital AccessibilityA8 Plan Language Project LeadershipA9 Editing for Plainer Technical WritingA11 ISO for Communicators (coming in 2025)A12 ISO How to make it work for OrganizationsWe recommend you start with the courses that are most suited to your current tasks or future plans.
Core Courses: *$275 CAD
Advanced Courses *$299 - $400 CAD, USD, Euros or other.* Prices can changeWhat languages can I learn in?
We also have Academies in Spanish (educlaro), French (clair et simple, and are offering courses through the Plain Language Institute in South Africa. We want to be as inclusive as possible. If you have course ideas, know of or want to be an instructor with us, please email kate@plainlanguageacademy.com.Browse courses and access registration links on PlainLanguageAcademy.com.Visit PlainLanguageAcademies.org for links to all the options (French, Spanish).We look forward to working and learning with you.KatePLAs Director and Facilitator
Course categories
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Available courses
Creating Clear E-content
Register anytime . $345 CAD
Online e-content, whether for websites, social media or electronic communications (emails, texts), is now part of our daily communications. We need to adapt our writing style to these platforms and their users. Plain language puts readers first and online readers have specific characteristics. Knowing how to write clear, concise, effective online content for readers and platforms will help you connect effectively. Integrating plain language practices into your online content development is important to succeed. It's all about online conversations.
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
Designing for Digital Accessibility
Starts Feb 3, 2025 $395 CAD /€260 Euros
Register your interest at getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com
Course Profile
Welcome to our comprehensive course on designing accessible digital information.
Accessibility of digital documents and content ensures inclusive design for all. In today's digital age, accessibility is not just a legal requirement, it is a moral obligation. This course is aimed at helping you learn how to create digital content that is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability.
Instructor: dr Izabela Mrochen, Poland, EU
MultiAccess Centre
Portfolio: https://izabela-mrochen.eu/
Fee: $395 CAD €260 Euros Paid via PayPal
Contact: Plain Language Academy
getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com
- Instructor: Izabela Mrochen
Focus on Feedback
Register now. $299.00 CAD
Focus on Feedback provides guidance in understanding and applying this important component of the plain language process. Plain language requires that the reader be consulted in order to achieve successful communication. Through readability and user testing you learn whether the intended message has been expressed clearly for your audience. We provide explanations of practices giving you the opportunity to put them to work.
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
Connecting with Citizens and other Stakeholders
Registration is flexible starting from Sept 19, 2024Instructor: Nicole Watkins Campbell$299.00 CADWatch interview on PLA Youtube.DescriptionCitizens’ trust in their governments is disappearing. It’s happening around the world for many different reasons. But written government communication shows that governments have forgotten how to communicate with citizens.Plain language can help governments rebuild the relationship. The Government of Canada, for example, actually has a plain language policy for its public communication. Other governments are also working to use plain language in more communication.
This course will help municipal, provincial, and federal workers improve their writing or editing for the public and other stakeholders. It will also be useful to writers or editors who offer services to government clients.
Learning goals
You will learn to:
· identify your purpose in writing
· understand your audiences’ motivations and needs
· use 10 writing tactics to make your writing more engaging
· test whether your documents are working for readersTopics
- Write for excellent public service, and your career
- Know your readers and your purpose
- Help your reader find their way
- Make it easy using style and language
- Make sure it's clear: final project
Workload:
- 6 exercises and a final project
- About 10 hours of reading and work (I haven’t tested this number, of course)
- Instructor: Nicole Watkins Campbell
Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy
Offered in English and Spanish
$275 USD
New dates in 2025
Register at Educlaro.moodlecloud.com
enquiries: romina@languagecompass.com.
Romina Marazzato Sparano is now teaching this course in English as well as in Spanish on Educlaro.moodlecloud.com. She is also creating new plain language courses on her sister site to Plain Language Academy. If you have any questions, simply email romina@languagecompass.com. Thank you for joining us.
In this course, we will explore the intersection between health literacy and plain language to promote successful health communication. Health literacy is defined as the ability to find, understand, and process information to make healthcare decisions. Plain language has a vital role to play in fostering access, understanding, and usability of health information.
Editing for Plainer Technical Writing
Oct 7, 2024 $299 CAD
For people who prepare technical information for non-technical readers
This six-week course is for anyone who prepare technical information for non-technical readers. You might write:
- correspondence to citizens about their water quality
- reports to elected officials about development projects
- user manuals for customers with new electronics
You will learn to assess your audience and their information needs and to edit a technical document so that they can find the information they need, understand what they find and use that information quickly.
This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked.
- Instructor: Nicole Watkins Campbell
Plain Language Project Leadership
Register now. $299 CAD
Plain Language Project Leadership encompasses the whole plain language process, focusing on a project client document. This course lets you to practice leading a complete a project with guidance, feedback, and support. You will develop a project plan, content, and a report.
Benefits
- opportunity to put together all your knowledge and skills on one project
- enhance your experience in audience awareness and document testing
- create a working template for future plain language projects.
Topics covered:
- Complete a planning document
- Proposal to client
- Quiz yourself on your leadership skills
- Taking care of yourself while leading others
- Create a definition of plain language that you are comfortable using.
- Create a template for your Project Work Plan and Style Sheet
- Audience Analysis with identification
- Create a reader persona
- Mid-Project Report
- Demonstrate three clear design techniques
- Create a project stylesheet with before and after examples
- Modify the PLA Plain Language Checklist for your own use
- Develop a testing plan
- Discussion forum on user-ease and dealing with feedback
- Write a memo to client as your proposal and report
- Finalize your project plan, report to client, and sample revision
We'll find a project for you to work on if you don't have one.
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
Courses open to enrolment.
Note: The Core courses are required as part of your Letter of Achievement. Each course costs $275 CAD. C1 Plain Language Basics, C2 Audience Awareness, and C3 Plain Language Writing and Editing are bundled for a discount of 15% when you register and pay for all three at the same time.
Go to plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com
1. Create your account.
2. Register and pay for each course individually.
3. Receive your refund.
We start the plain language journey with a look at what it is, how it works, why it is so important. This course aims to give you a basic knowledge of plain language as a practice.
Understanding the plain language process and practice will help you apply new skills and promote this important component of information development designed to give readers what they need, that they can easily navigate, and is usable. With an ISO standard for plain language in the works, knowing and applying this practice is taking on stronger significance.
The course is supported by information, discussions, readings, helpful links, assignments, and feedback.
Contact getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com with questions.
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
Open for registration.
We created PlainLanguageAcademies.org to help you create clearer messages for people who want information they need, can access, understand content, and act on. We also designed the courses on plain language principles: important for the reader, easy to understand, efficient to navigate, and effective to turn into actions. Our goal is to continue to expand our course content, languages, and global access.
We love how our students from all over the world demonstrate skills, interact and give us feedback about our online, self-directed and instructor-supported courses. Join us for a great learning experience. Enhance existing skills or gain new ones, with a fresh, client-centred approach. Enjoy the feeling of writing cleaner, clearer, more accessible communications.
Our instructors will help you work through online courses with feedback and discussions. Advanced courses include a live session. Sharing connects you with other learners. We also have Academies in Spanish (educlaro) and French (clair et simple) and are offering courses with global professionals. Find out more and get course registration links on PlainLanguageAcademy.com.
Enjoy being part of our online learning community. We look forward to working with you.
Thanks for choosing the PlainLanguageAcademy.com
Kate
Kate Harrison Whiteside, PLA Director and Facilitator
getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
Open for registration.
Plain Language Writing and Editing follows on from Plain Language Basics and Audience Awareness in the plain language process. Now it's time to strengthen planning, writing and editing skills with plain language guidelines, reader feedback and checklists.
The creative process can sometimes lead to confusing messages, based on the volume of, presentation of, and organization of information. As writers, we can also get caught up in the process and forget about our audience. The plain language planning process, writing techniques, and editing strategies will help you deliver a clear message your audience wants and can understand.
Got questions? Email getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com.
- Instructor: Kate Harrison Whiteside
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