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You can take them all, 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 and strategic planning. We will soon be opening our Spanish and French Academies. 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
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Goals
After completing this course, you will be able to identify and locate existing information on:
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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 |
Course 2 : Audience Awareness
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Goals
You will gain skills in:
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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 |
Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing
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Goals
After completing this course you will be able to:
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Outline
Module 1: Planning for Clarity Module 2: Plain Language Writing Module 3: Plain Language Editing Module 4: Quiz Module 5: Assignment |
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
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Goals
When you complete this course, you will be:
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Outline
Module 1: Introduction and Overview Module 2: Layout Module 3: Typography Module 4: Other Graphic Elements Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment |
Course 5: Testing and Evaluating
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Goals
After completing this course, you will:
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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 |
Course 6: Plain Language Project
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Put all your skills together on one project. We'll take you step-by-step.
Available in three choices:
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Coaching and Consulting Service Add-ons
Course +Coaching+Consulting Course +Coaching Email getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com for details and fees. |
Advanced Courses
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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:
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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:
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 Outline
We’ll discuss evidence and best practices in:
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Science Supports Plain Language
Feb 8. Register here. April 7: Register here. Now only $250.00 CAD Spring price $275.00. Next offering: April 7 |
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New! A5 Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic Priority
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) Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic Priority March 1.$250.00 CAD Limited enrolment. Register now Log in Steps: 1. Create your Moodle account. 2. Log on to Plain Language Academy site. 3. Choose your course. 4. Pay with PayPal (accepts payment with or without a PP account). 5. Registered. If you have any questions, email us at sarah@plain-language.co.za or nadja@plain-language.co.za |
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.