Introduction to easy language DE/FR/IT

What is easy language, why is it important and how can it benefit language professionals?

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Objectives and content

Enquiries and contact

Downloads and brochure

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At a glance

Qualification:

Course confirmation

Start:

12.09.2025

Duration:

5 lessons – 2 afternoons, more details about the implementation

Costs:

CHF 590.00

Comment on costs:

Selbstzahlende Einzelmitglieder von DÜV und ASTTI profitieren von einem Rabatt von 10% auf die Kursgebühren.
ALUMNI ZHAW-Mitglieder profitieren von einem Rabatt von 5% auf die Kursgebühren.

Language of instruction:

German, English, Italien, French
- Theory: English (2 lessons) / language-specific DE/FR/IT (1 lesson) - Practical exercises: in the respective languages DE/FR/IT (2 lessons)

As the name suggests, easy language (FR: Langage facile à lire et à comprendre; IT: Lingua facile) is a variety of natural language that is significantly clearer than standard language. Easy language holds great social significance, as it makes communication more accessible for people with cognitive impairments. Furthermore, easy language makes it easier for organisations to comply with legal accessibility requirements. Participants learn about the fundamentals of accessible communication as well as the latest research findings and the primary target groups of easy language. A special focus is placed on the challenges posed by this language variety. The course includes practical examples and an exercise component.

Objectives and content

Target audience

This continuing education course is aimed at translators and editors who are looking to develop their knowledge in the field of text simplification and leverage the potential offered by this additional skill with a view to expanding their service offering.

Unter “Downloads” finden Sie Factsheets auf Französisch, Italienisch und Englisch zum Kurs.

Objectives

In addition to developing participants’ expertise in the aforementioned areas, this continuing education course pursues several key objectives:

Promoting inclusion: the course aims to raise participants’ awareness of the issues relating to accessible communication and the needs of the target audiences of easy language.
Reflecting on text comprehensibility: a key objective is to enhance participants’ ability to communicate complex information in a clear and comprehensible manner.
Complying with legal requirements: the course helps participants in meeting legal requirements pertaining to accessibility.
Fostering social responsibility: the course raises participants’ awareness of the importance of social responsibility and demonstrates how they can make a positive contribution to ensuring an inclusive society through the use of easy language.

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Content

Areas of expertise

Participants develop their expertise in the following areas during the course:

Theoretical foundations: participants learn about the principles and rules of easy language, including the associated linguistic, media and conceptual requirements.
Legal and ethical aspects: participants gain an understanding of the legal requirements and ethical considerations that go hand in hand with accessible communication.
Text analysis and evaluation: participants are trained to analyse existing texts written in easy language and evaluate their readability.
Writing skills: participants practice translating complex information into easy language to create texts that are as readable and understandable as possible.
Target audience adaptation: participants acquire the ability to tailor texts to the specific needs of the target audience of easy language.
Practical application: participants learn how to put theory into practice and translate authentic texts into easy language by completing practical exercises and case studies.
Quality assurance: participants are taught the quality assurance processes for texts written in easy language.

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Content

Theory:

General
Theoretical foundations: introduction to the continuum of easy language – plain language – standard language
Swiss context
Target groups
Rule sets and translation strategies
Translation workflow
Quality assurance and revision
Automatic text simplification and AI tools

Practice:

Deepening of theoretical knowledge and rules for each language (DE/FR/IT)
Examples/exercises/tools
Translation task
Feedback and discussion

Methodology

Theoretical introductions (3 lessons) and practical implementation (2 lessons).
Active participation is expected, as students will work as part of small groups in the respective languages.

More details about the implementation

Friday, 12 September 2025

Lesson 1: 2 p.m. to 2.45 p.m.: general theory in English
- Lesson 2: 2.50 p.m. to 3.35 p.m.: general theory in English
- Lesson 3: 3.45 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.: language-specific theory in FR/IT/DE and presentation of a practical assignment that participants are to prepare for the coming week.
- Lessons 4+5: 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.: discussion of the assignment, feedback, strategies (FR/IT/DE)

Friday, 19 September 2025

Lessons 4+5: 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.: discussion of the assignment, feedback, strategies (FR/IT/DE)

The course is held online via MS Teams and the theoretical component is recorded. The recording will be made available to the participants together with the presentation for a limited period after the course is completed.

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Enquiries and contact

Bei Fragen rund um Organisation und Anmeldung:
Sekretariat Weiterbildung
Telefon: +41 (0)58 934 61 61
weiterbildung.linguistik@zhaw.ch
Bei inhaltlichen Fragen:
Laura Subirats Kärkkäinen
Leiterin Weiterbildung und Dienstleistung IMK (Institut für Mehrsprachige Kommunikation)