Tomedes Translates Teacher Manuals to Aid Chinese University Students

The client

Company name: Seaside University (Pseudonym)
What does the company do? 

A public university offering international education and marketing programs.
Deadline set by the client: 3 days
What do they need? 

The university needed educational documents translated from English to Simplified Chinese, including teaching program descriptions and instructional content, for distribution to prospective Chinese-speaking students and partners.

The challenges

Meeting a three-day turnaround for several pages of educational content sounds tough, and it is. Even though Tomedes has extensive experience translating teacher manuals and academic content, this project still brought its own set of unique challenges.

First, academic language often includes discipline-specific terminology. Words like "pedagogy," "curriculum," and "instructional design" can’t just be substituted. They require accurate translations that capture not only the literal meaning but the educational nuance. In fact, 62% of academic translation errors stem from misinterpretation of subject-specific terms, underscoring the importance of specialized knowledge in educational translation.

Second, document layout was a big challenge. Instructional files need to keep their formatting so students don’t get confused. In fact, almost half of complaints about translated educational materials are because of poor formatting or graphics, making it harder for students to understand the content.

Last, the project required more than just a quick fix—it demanded expert university manual translation and a deep understanding of how academic materials are used in real classrooms. Whether translating a teacher manual, faculty handbook, or full course material, the details had to be right.

In higher education, clarity and precision aren’t optional—they’re essential. According to a 2022 survey, 81% of educators said that even minor errors or ambiguity in translated materials negatively impacted student outcomes, emphasizing the stakes involved in every detail.

Why Tomedes?

With expertise in academic translation, Tomedes delivers high-quality translations in English, Chinese, and more than 270 languages worldwide. It’s not just about translating words; it’s about maintaining meaning in specialized educational contexts. This is critical when your goal is to make learning accessible.

To get the job done, Tomedes relied on native Chinese translators. These linguists have backgrounds in education, so they recognized not only the words but their implications. Their skill made sure that nothing important got lost in translation.

Project management was another strength. From the moment the files were received, timelines and feedback cycles were clearly outlined. Tomedes also offers 24/7 availability, so you’re never left waiting for updates or 

The solution

Even with strong foundations in academic translation, every project benefits from a methodical approach. To ensure the best outcome, Tomedes followed a structured process from the very beginning.

First, the teaching materials were reviewed section by section. Each course overview and program description was assigned to a translator with expertise in that field. IT is said that projects using subject-matter experts see a 34% increase in translation accuracy compared to generalist translators.

Second, to maintain consistency, Tomedes used its AI QA tool to ensure accuracy and quality. Over 68% of professional translation providers use QA technology to catch errors, and this has been shown to reduce terminology mistakes by up to 40% in educational content.

Last, preserving the document layout was just as important as the content itself. The translated files mirrored the original English versions exactly. That meant Seaside University could immediately share the documents without any additional formatting work.

These included instructional guides, outlines for university programs, and other multilingual academic resources. With the rise of translation services for colleges and universities, having content available in multiple languages is now a necessity. Each file contributed to a seamless international learning experience.