PlainLanguageAcademy
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​Starting in 2021, we will be offering courses in Français, Español, and in South Africa. Plain language knows no boundaries, and neither do we.

​ Our Foundation Program is built on six Core courses. Begin your plain language learning journey by understanding the real meaning of and the process of clear communication. They enhance your awareness of your audience and improve your writing and editing skills. Find out how to apply important clear design guidelines. Build a tool kit of testing and evaluating methods that suit your needs. And, apply it all in the project course.

You can take them all, or just the ones that interest you. And, we're adding Advanced specialized courses to meet the growing demand for specialized knowledge, legal, health, online content.

​Certificates are presented for successful course completion. Letter of Achievement is sent to you  when six are completed successfully, the first three core courses and any three others.




Core Courses

Course 1: Plain Language Basics

Goals
After completing this course, you will be able to identify and locate existing information on:
  • facts
  • principles
  • theories and practices
related to plain language as a field of work. 
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
Facilitators
​

Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com.


Course 1: Plain Language Basics
Feb 1 Register now.
Spring price $250.00 Now only $225.00 CAD​

Course 2 : Audience Awareness

Goals
You will gain skills in:
  • getting to know your audience
  •  increasing your understanding of audiences 
  • designing and delivering messages that put the audience first.
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.

Course 2: Audience Awareness
​
Feb 8. Register now.
Spring price $250.00. Now only ​$225.00 CAD​

Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing

Goals
​
After completing this course you will be able to: 
  • create a clear plan
  • write for your reader
  • edit to meet plain language guidelines.

Outline
Module 1: Planning for Clarity
Module 2: Plain Language Writing
Module 3: Plain Language Editing
Module 4: Quiz
Module 5: Assignment
Facilitator
​

 
Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com.
Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing
Feb 15. Register now.
Spring price $250.00. Now only $225.00 CAD​​

Course 4: Clear Design Practices

Goals
When you complete this course, you will be:
  • more familiar with design terminology and objectives as they relate to plain language communication.
  • ​better able to collaboration with publications teams, including [other] writers, editors, and designers
Outline
Module 1: 
Introduction and Overview
Module 2: Layout 
Module 3: Typography
Module 4: Other Graphic Elements
Module 5: Quiz
Module 6: Assignment
Facilitator
​

Flora Gordon,
​
Flora Gordon Design + Imagery
Course 4: Clear Design Practices
Jan 11. Register now

Spring price $250.00. Now only $225.00 CAD​

Course 5: Testing and Evaluating

Goals
After completing this course, you will:
  • understand the testing options available,
  • develop a list of resources
  • be able to make informed decisions about which method you can manage, that best suits your project and resources.
Outline
Module 1:
The role testing plays
Module 2: How to plan for testing
Module 3: Choosing a testing method
Module 4: Quiz
Module 5: Assignment


Facilitator
​

 Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com.
Course 5: Testing and Evaluating
Feb 22 Register now.

Spring price $250.00. Now only $225.00 CAD​

Course 6: Plain Language Project

Put all your skills together on one project. We'll take you step-by-step.
​Available in three choices:
  • on your own
  • with some specific coaching
  • with combined coaching and project consulting advice.

​
Coaching and Consulting Service Add-ons

​Course +Coaching+Consulting
Course +Coaching

​Email getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com 
​for details and fees.
Facilitator
​
Cheryl Stephens
Cheryl Stephens.com
Course 6: Plain Language Project
​Feb 22 Register now.

Spring price $250.00. Now only $225.00 CAD​

Advanced Courses

A1 Creating Clear E-content

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.





​
A2 Editing for Plainer Legal Writing 
​
​for writers with no legal training

This course is for anyone who has to edit legal materials to be clear and user-friendly, whether or not you have a legal background.  We will not deal with the creation of new legal documents. You will learn how to edit an existing document.





​A3 Plain Language 2.0 and
​Health Literacy

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.
​​
A4 Science Supports Plain Language 
​
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 and cognitive psychology, to:
  • simplify your writing
  • engage readers
  • get your message across
Outline
​

1. Why we need clear e-content.
1.1 What is the key difference between print and online?
2. Planning online content
2.1 Follow a style guide
3. Building audience awareness
3.1 Creating your audience persona
4. Writing online conversations
4.1 Editing online content
5. Content and visual design
5.1 Basic design guidelines
6. Testing and evaluating
Assignment


Outline

Looking at legal editing through four lenses:
  1. Context
  2. Style
  3. Common problems
  4. Plain language
​
​


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




Outine

We’ll discuss evidence and best practices in:
  1. the three-stage reading process
  2. improving recall
  3. content framework
  4. making connections
  5. priming and recency
  6. inferences and predictions
Facilitator
​
Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com

Creating Clear E-Content 
Feb 1 Register here.
Spring price $275.00. 
​
Now only 
$250.00 CAD​

​





Facilitator
​
Nicole Watkins Campbell,
Watkins Campbell Communications.

Editing for Plainer Legal Writing
Feb 1 Register here.

Spring price $275.00. 
​
Now only 
$250.00 CAD​
​

​

Facilitator

Romina Marazzato Sparano
Language Compass , USA
PL 2.0 and Health Literacy
Feb 22.   Register here.
​
Spring price $275.00. 
​
Now only 
$250.00 USD

​Facilitator

Cheryl Stephens
 Cheryl Stephens.com
Science Supports Plain Language
Feb 8. Register here.
​
Spring price $275.00. 
​
Now only 
$250.00 CAD
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. 

Join the Academy! We look forward to working with you.

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  • Home
  • Connect
  • Discover
  • Courses
  • Register
  • Academies
    • Académie du langage clair et simple
    • Academia de Lenguaje Claro
  • About Us
  • Blogs and Vids
    • Videos