PlainLanguageAcademy
  • Home
  • Courses
  • Connect
  • Students
  • Academies
    • Académie du langage clair et simple
    • Academia de Lenguaje Claro
    • Plain Language Institute South Africa
  • About Us
  • News, blogs, vids
    • Videos
The award-winning ​Plain Language Academy

offers courses in English,  listed here, 

en 
Français through Académie du languge clair et simple,

en Español through the Academia de Languaje Claro


and through Plain Language Institute in South Africa.

Plain language knows no boundaries and neither do we.
Picture
We want to help you achieve.
You can take all the courses, or just the ones that interest you.

​ Our Foundation 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 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.

 Our Advanced courses are designed to meet the growing demand for specialized knowledge: legal, health, online content; science, climate change and strategic planning.

​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.

Three steps to your next course
1. Go to: P
lainLanguageAcademy.Moodlecloud.Com
2. Create your own Moodle account.
3. Choose the course/s you want and register.
See the calendar below for dates.


Your time is important
Want to start a course on your time? Just ask us at kate@plainlanguageacademy.com.
No time for a course but still need help?
We offer coaching and consulting. Just ask Kate for advice at  kate@plainlanguageacademy.com.

Core Courses - 2023 dates 

 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.
C1: Plain Language Basics
Registration open  $250.00 CAD

​
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
​

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:
  • 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.
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: 
  • 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: Questions
Module 5: Assignment


Facilitator
​
Kate Harrison Whiteside , Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com.
kate@plainlanguageacademy.com
Picture
The Plain Language Academies won the 2021 PLAIN Cheryl Stephens Award for Innovation for ground-breaking contribution to the field of plain language​.

In 2022, Kate was granted a life-time membership to PLAIN, which she co-founded.

In 2023, Academy students will choose to study in English, Spanish, and French.

 Coaching and consulting options. Just ask.

Would your prefer to be coached rather than go through a course online? Or, would you like to add some coaching to the course you are taking? Perhaps you could used some consulting on a project. Please get in touch with us through  Kate at PlainLanguageAcademy dot com. The Plain Language Academy Team.

Advanced Course Categories and Classes

All Advanced courses include one live session with your instructor.

Legal and Professional

A11: 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
  • Readings are provided as links in each lesson.
  • Resource list to learn more about modern legal writing practices.
  • How to proceed through the course.
  • The course assignments must be completed within 8 weeks of your start date.

​Facilitator
Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com
Recommended follow-up course: A2 Editing for Plainer Legal Writing

A9: Editing for Plainer Technical Writing 
For people who prepare technical information for non-technical readers 
Register now. Starts Mar 13  $275.00.CAD 

Goals
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. 
​

Facilitator
Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications.
A2: Editing for Plainer Legal Writing
for writers with no legal training
   Register now. Mar 6. $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:
  • why legal writing is the way it is 
  • how to consider the needs of your readers
  • how to organize a piece of legal writing to guide readers through it
  • how to deal with some common problems with legalese
You may practise your skills on an existing piece of legal writing or use an extract from a cell phone contract included with the course materials. I also provide a free text book from the course originator, Cheryl Stephens. This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked. 

Facilitator
Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications.
​A3: Plain Language 2.0 and ​Health Literacy
Register now on Academy Educlaro in English and Spanish.
Feb 27 $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

Strategy and Planning

 A5: Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic Priority
​
Next course in April 3, 2023.  $275.00 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 is 6-8 weeks long If you have any questions, email us at sarah@plain-language.co.za or nadja@plain-language.co.za
A8: Plain Language Project Leadership
 
​April  16 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 
  • 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.  ​​

Facilitator
 Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com
A6: Focus on Feedback
Register now Feb 13  $275.00 CAD 
​
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: Questions 
Module 5: Assignment


Facilitator
 Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com
kate@plainlanguageacademy.com
​ A4: Science Supports Plain Language
 Open. Choose your date and 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:
  • the three-stage reading process of the brain
  • improving recall to ensure learning and retention
  • making connections for continuity and comprehension,  and more.​
​Topics include:
  • Neuroscience tells us about the internal process.   
  • How readability is measured by reader experience
  • Writeability guidelines to make content easier and more.
You can proceed at your own pace. You schedule a 1 hour Zoom session with the course facilitator. We expect you to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. 

Facilitator
Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com

Online Content

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

A7: Clear Digital Design
Register now. Course starts Feb 20, 2023  $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: 
  • identify the audience and purpose of your digital communication;
  • objectively assess digital design;
  • advise on or apply your skills to improve digital design; and
  • work with web designers to make online content more accessible.​

Facilitators
​Annie Burger and 
Liezl van Zyl, HeyPlainJane.com

New Academies. New language options.

Study in French. Academie Clair et Simple  is offering courses in 2023. 

Study in Spanish. Academy, ​Educlaro, is now live. Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy  is available in Spanish and English. 

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. 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Courses
  • Connect
  • Students
  • Academies
    • Académie du langage clair et simple
    • Academia de Lenguaje Claro
    • Plain Language Institute South Africa
  • About Us
  • News, blogs, vids
    • Videos