Community Tech Network (CTN)
Overcoming communication challenges at Community Tech Network
Community Tech Network (CTN) is a nonprofit focused on digital equity. It provides digital skills training and access to technology for underserved communities, helping to close the digital divide. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas, CTN partners with agencies across the country to develop digital literacy programs. To support monolingual immigrants, CTN ensures its training materials are available in their native languages. However, before working with Language Department, meeting these diverse language needs was a major challenge.
THE CHALLENGE
CTN needed to translate training materials into multiple languages to support its diverse learners, many of whom are monolingual immigrants. Without translations, these learners struggled to understand digital skills.
However, CTN had limited internal resources for translations and couldn’t afford to hire freelancers for every project. This made it hard to maintain consistency and quality across languages. Language barriers also affected learner engagement, making it difficult to teach complex technology concepts effectively.
OUR SOLUTION
Language Department provided fast, high-quality translations, making digital training materials accessible in multiple languages.
To ensure consistency and reduce costs, they built a library of translated technology terms for CTN. This kept materials uniform and streamlined future translations.
The team worked closely with CTN to meet deadlines and tailor translations to their needs. Their expertise in localization helped improve learning materials, increasing engagement and expanding access to digital literacy programs.
With Language Department’s support, CTN was able to better serve monolingual learners, ensuring everyone could fully benefit from its programs.
“Language Department took the time to understand our specific translation needs and the importance of localization.”
– Sabrina Tam
