Max Troyer

Professor of Professional Practice; Grover Hermann Endowed Program Chair, Translation and Localization Management

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Office
McCone Building M206
Tel
(831) 647-6422
Email
mtroyer@middlebury.edu

Professor Troyer takes a broad view of “localization” that encompasses researching whether and how an entity should expand globally, implementing the technical modifications needed to support other languages, making content available to users who speak those languages, and coordinating all these activities. The Translation and Localization Management (TLM) program curriculum enables graduates to find their niche within this vast ecosystem. As a consultant in the industry, he helps his clients save money by optimizing and/or automating their workflows and processes.

For TLM, Troyer teaches the core technology courses including Website Localization, Multilingual Desktop Publishing and Audio-Visual Localization, and Software and Games Localization. Students read and view most instructional content on their own, leaving the bulk of class time free for real-world, hands-on exercises; most assessment is project-based. As the TLM Program Chair, he is constantly adapting the program to reflect the latest industry developments, ensuring that TLM graduates continue to be in demand by the top language service providers (LSPs) and tech companies, many of which are close by in Silicon Valley.

In October, 2020, Professor Troyer was appointed the Grover Hermann Chair in International Business Management. This endowed chair, created by a gift from the Grover Hermann Foundation in 1983, is dedicated to assisting students in acquiring knowledge and experience in business and management practices in cultures around the globe.

 

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Courses Taught

Course Description

This course is recommended for those who want to go into the localization industry. Students can satisfy the requirements for this course through a paid or volunteer ongoing internship in the localization industry, volunteering for Globe Multilingual Services, or working on a special or research project such as the internally produced ROAR podcast. The course is designed to give students real-world experience. Students work in roles that correspond to either their future career goals or a role he or she would like to explore.

Terms Taught

Spring 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2022 - MIIS

View in Course Catalog

Course Description

Multilingual Desktop Publishing

This course will provide a solid foundation in multilingual desktop publishing (DTP), with a focus on print-based assets. We will spend time exploring most aspects of the DTP workflow from the perspective of a project manager, translator, or localization engineer. You will also learn fundamental typography concepts to provide you with better context and vocabulary for working with designers, publishers, and other translators. Finally, you will be exposed to many relevant tools, especially Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe CC) applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat.

Terms Taught

Spring 2023 - MIIS

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Course Description

This course is designed to give students a solid foundation in audio/visual localization. Students will learn how to localize motion-based assets created using the most common industry tools such as After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, and subtitling tools. Topics are approached from the angle of a translator, project manager and localization engineer. We spend a lot of time making sure translated motion-based content is easily understood.

Terms Taught

Spring 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2022 - MIIS

View in Course Catalog

Course Description

This course will provide a solid foundation in games localization, including a brief history of the industry, an overview of the various game platforms and genres, and how each has their own localization challenges. Students will study games localization processes, and how they fit in and often overlap with software development and localization. Students will gain hands-on experience with common game-localization file formats such as Excel, XML, and JSON. In addition, students will experience how to localize mobile and console games using Android Studio, Xcode, GameMaker Studio 2, Unity, and Unreal. Instead of a traditional final, students will work either individually or in a small group to complete a games localization-related project. During this “games workshop,” students can choose between creating a game from scratch and localizing it, adapting an existing game and localizing it, localizing an existing game, or complete a game-localization research project. Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to confidently discuss games localization from the point of view of a project manager, engineer, and translator.

Terms Taught

Spring 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2023 - MIIS

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Course Description

The course will familiarize students with web technologies as they relate to localization. Special attention will be paid to process from the point of view of a translator, project manager and localization engineer.

Terms Taught

Spring 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2022 - MIIS, Fall 2023 - MIIS

View in Course Catalog

Areas of Interest

Professor Troyer’s finger is on the pulse of the localization industry to ensure that the TLM curriculum reflects the needs of language industry, i.e. translation agencies and the customers who buy translation and localization from them. TLM alumni constantly send him ideas for topics that absolutely must be included in the curriculum. He also seeks out partnerships with localization tool providers, keeping the program on the cutting edge of an industry in constant flux.

 

 

Programs

Academic Degrees

  • MA in Translation (French), Monterey Institute of International Studies
  • BA in Computer Science and French, Indiana University

Professor Troyer has been teaching at the Institute since 2010.

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