Options to meet needs
Take all the courses, a series, or just the ones that interest you. Our Program is built on Core and Advanced courses. Begin your plain language learning journey by understanding the real meaning of and the process of clear communication. Then enhance your awareness of your audience and improve your writing, editing, and design skills. Our Advanced courses are designed to meet the growing demand for specialized knowledge: legal, health, online content; science, technical, design, and strategic planning. Certificates are presented for successful course completion. Letter of Achievement is sent to you when six are completed successfully. We recommend the first three core courses and any three others. Three steps to your next course 1. Go to: PainLanguageAcademy.Moodlecloud.Com 2. Create your own Moodle account. 3. Choose the course/s you want and register. See the calendar below for dates. |
Multi-lingual choices
Courses in:
Online supported learning
You go through the course online, self-directed, with instructor support, interaction and assignment feedback. Certificates and more
Certificates for each course successfully completed. Letter of Achievement for six successfully completed courses. Your time is important
Want to start a course on your time? Just ask kate@plainlanguageacademy.com. No time to study but still need help?
We offer coaching and consulting. Ask kate@plainlanguageacademy.com. Registration links below with course details. Fees: $250 - $360 CAD or USD |
Core Courses
Course 1: Plain Language Basics Course 2: Audience Awareness Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing Special 15% discount refund when you sign up for all three. Advanced Courses Online Content and Digital Design
Coming in 2024
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PLA Core Courses
New package discount: The Core courses are required as part of your Letter of Achievement. Starting in 2022, Core Courses C1 Plain Language Basics,
C2 Audience Awareness, and C3 Plain Language Writing and Editing are bundled for a discount of 15% ($115 rebate) when you register and pay for all three at the same time. 1. Set up your account on plainlangaugeacademy.moodlecloud.com 2. Pay for each of the three Core courses individually using the PayPal link provided. You will then receive your rebate.
C2 Audience Awareness, and C3 Plain Language Writing and Editing are bundled for a discount of 15% ($115 rebate) when you register and pay for all three at the same time. 1. Set up your account on plainlangaugeacademy.moodlecloud.com 2. Pay for each of the three Core courses individually using the PayPal link provided. You will then receive your rebate.
C1 : Plain Language Basics
Registration open. $250.00 CAD Goals You will learn: the core guidelines for plain language ideas on promoting it to others what the process involves skills to prepare you rof the next courses. Outline Module 1: What is Plain Language? Module 2: Use Plain Language to Solve Problems Module 3: Making the Message Clearer Module 4: Review and Wrap-up Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. kate@plainlanguageacademy.com |
C2 : Audience Awareness
Registration open. $250.00 CAD Goals You will gain skills in:
Outline Module 1: Knowing your audience Module 2: Understanding your audience Module 3: Design, accessibility, audience needs Module 4: Review and resources Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. kate@plainlanguageacademy.com |
Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing
Registration open. $250.00 CAD Goals After completing this course you will be able to:
Outline Module 1: Planning for Clarity Module 2: Plain Language Writing Module 3: Plain Language Editing Module 4: Questions Module 5: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside , Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. kate@plainlanguageacademy.com |
New Academies. New language options. New open registration. Study in French. Académie du langage clair et simple is offering courses in 2024. Study in Spanish. Academy, Educlaro. Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy is available in Spanish and English. Open registration means you start your online studies when you are ready. Many of our courses offer this option. |
Advanced Categories and Courses
All Advanced courses include one live session with your instructor.
Professional
A3: Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy
Register now on Academy Educlaro in English and Spanish. TBA $275.00 USD Email romina@languagecompass.com for details. Successful completion means a Certificate and credit towards the five course Letter of Achievement from the Plain Language Academy. Goals 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. Outline 1. Health Literacy as a Complex Construct 2. Plain Language for Health Communication 3. Writing Strategies for Clarity 4. Live Recap and Final Project Self-study supported by group discussions, live video session and instructor feedback on submissions. Facilitator Romina Marazzato Sparano, Language Compass, USA |
A4: Science Supports Plain Language
Next course March 2024. Register $275.00.CAD. Keep it simple: the science behind plain language, and why you should use it Goals Research shows the less work audiences need to put into reading, the more they will find sources credible, and the better they will connect with the messages. You will learn the most up-to-date techniques, drawn from neuroscience, linguistics, and cognitive psychology. We'll explore how to make the reader's work easier and fluent. You will be introduced to best practices in:
Facilitator Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com |
A9: Editing for Plainer Technical Writing
For people who prepare technical information for non-technical readers TBA $275.00.CAD Goals This six-week course is for anyone who prepare technical information for non-technical readers. You might write:
This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked. Facilitator Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications. |
A14: Connecting with Citizens and other Stakeholders
For people who prepare government information for others - internal and external April 22 $275.00.CAD Citizens’ trust in their governments is disappearing. It’s happening around the world for many different reasons. This course will help municipal, provincial, and federal workers improve their writing or editing for the public and other stakeholders. Learning goals · identify their purpose in writing · understand their audiences’ motivations and needs · use 10 writing tactics to make their writing more engaging · test whether their documents are working for readers Topics
Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications. |
Strategy and Planning
A5: Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic Priority (12-weeks)
March 4, 2024. $360.00 CAD Email your interest to getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com. Goals The focus of Plain Language actions is often on specific documents or pieces of communication. Implementing Plain Language in a systematic manner in an organization is, however, a different challenge for executives, compliance officers, communication managers or customer relations. This course will empower you to make your organization truly customer- or citizen-centred. Outline Module 1: A framework for implementing Plain Language as a strategic priority Module 2: Getting leadership buy-in for Plain Language Module 3: Developing a business plan for Plain Language Module 4: Establishing a Plain Language process Module 5: Creating sustainable excitement for Plain Language Module 6: Monitoring process and demonstrating return on investment Facilitators Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, South Africa Note: Course is12 weeks long If you have any questions, email us at sarah@plain-language.co.za or nadja@plain-language.co.za |
NEW A12: ISO Plain Language Standard:
How to make it work in organizations September 2024. Email your interest or questions to us at getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com. In 2023, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the first international standard for Plain Language. The standard provides nearly universal Plain Language guidelines and techniques. In an organisational context, these guidelines and techniques can be translated into a content development process that delivers relevant, findable, understandable, and usable communication. This course will help you translate the principles and guidelines of the ISO Plain Language standard into a content development process tailored for your organisation. Facilitators Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, South Africa Note: Course is12 weeks long If you have any questions, email us at sarah@plain-language.co.za or nadja@plain-language.co.za |
A6: Focus on Feedback
April 8,2024 $275.00 CAD Course is accessible. Do on your own time. Goals After completing this course, you will:
Outline Module 1: The role testing plays Module 2: How to plan for testing Module 3: Choosing a testing method Module 4: Questions Module 5: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com kate@plainlanguageacademy.com |
A8: Plain Language Project Leadership
Open Register now. $275.00 CAD GOALS 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
Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com |
Online Content and Design
A1: Creating Clear E-content
Register now. Open registration. $275.00.CAD Goals Online content, whether for websites, social media or electronic communications (emails, texts) is now part of our daily communications. We need to adapt our style of writing to these platforms. 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. Integrating plain language practices into your online content development is important to succeed. Outline 1. Why we need clear e-content. 2. Planning online content 3. Building audience awareness 4. Writing online conversations 5. Content and visual design 6. Testing and evaluating Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. kate@plainlanguageacademy.com LegalA11: Putting Clients First in Legal Writing
Best customer-service practice Open. Choose your date and register $275.00.CAD Goals A course for lawyers and paralegals: changing attitudes, writing process and writing style. Professionals in legal services must meet the needs of clients while maintaining competency in a common body of skills forming the fundamental elements of competent representation. This course provides a self-paced opportunity to explore the interpersonal and communication skills needed for better client management. Course Materials
Facilitator Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com Recommended follow-up course: A2 Editing for Plainer Legal Writing |
A7: Clear Digital Design
Register now. Next course March 4, 2024 $275.00.CAD Goals Communication is in plain language when language, structure, and design work in harmony to help the reader find what they need, understand it, and use it. And these days, much of our communication takes place online. This course will help plain language practitioners, editors and members of design teams broaden their understanding of the design challenges of the online environment and how to overcome them by applying design thinking. You’ll gain the tools you need to not only work on the text of plain language communication, but critically analyze and give advice on digital design, and work with web designers to ensure that users get the best digital experience. Outline Once you have completed it, you will be able to:
Facilitators Annie Burger and Liezl van Zyl, HeyPlainJane.com A2: Editing for Plainer Legal Writing
for writers with no legal training TBA. $275.00.CAD Goals This six-week course is for anyone who has to edit legal materials to be clear and user-friendly, whether or not you have a legal background. Outline You will learn:
Facilitator Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications. |
Course Policy, Registration Cancellation or Withdrawal
We know circumstances change. If you register and pay for a course, you can withdraw prior to the start of course for an 80% rebate.
If you withdraw in the first 5 days of the course, you receive an 80% refund. After one week, we will credit your fees to the same course in the future or another course of equal fees. Courses are generally available for 8 weeks. After that, unless special permission has been granted, you will be removed from the course. If you wish to complete it at a future date, you will have to pay again.
We know circumstances change. If you register and pay for a course, you can withdraw prior to the start of course for an 80% rebate.
If you withdraw in the first 5 days of the course, you receive an 80% refund. After one week, we will credit your fees to the same course in the future or another course of equal fees. Courses are generally available for 8 weeks. After that, unless special permission has been granted, you will be removed from the course. If you wish to complete it at a future date, you will have to pay again.