Professor of Professional Practice; Grover Hermann Endowed Chair, Translation and Localization Management
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. Localization goes beyond translation and involves adapting content and technical elements, tailoring them to specific cultural and linguistic preferences so localized messaging resonate as much as the original version, if not more.
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 the TLM program, Troyer teaches the core creative courses including Website Localization, Multilingual Desktop Publishing, and Audio-Visual Localization. He teaches Games Localization, an elective offered in the fall. He also offers a Middlebury Catalog course called “Subtitling for Streaming: Learn the Industry Standards,” which is available so anyone can learn the art of subtitling. He previously taught Localization Project Management, Software Localization, and Localization Practicum.
Professor Troyer, similar to other TLM faculty, relies on project-based learning and project-based assessment, so students are getting hands-on experience with localization projects. After they learn the material, they’re assessed based on how well they can complete a similar project on their own. This prepares students for real-world challenges and helps them stand out to top language service providers and tech companies. In a final course evaluation, a student recently stated the following: “Max Troyer is extremely supportive and provides excellently curated learning materials. His quality of teaching is outstanding and I wish that every professor would pour as much tangible dedication into their courses as Max does. Thank you!”
His content is available both asynchronously, meaning content and assignments can be completed on a student’s own schedule, and synchronously in a residential classroom (or remotely). He is constantly adapting his courses 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. For his recent promotion to full professor, an external evaluator had this to say about him: “[I appreciate] Professor Troyer’s insights, perspectives, and uniqueness in our industry. Particularly, how he has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the industry, a thirst for innovation, and an intuitive understanding of the most relevant questions and ramifications to our sector.”
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. The endowed chair position was renewed in 2023. Professor Troyer is proud of the TLM program’s achievements during his 10-year tenure serving as its program chair, which concluded in July 2023. These include the quadrupling of enrollment, launching a new fully online version of the program, and coordinating the creation of almost 10 technology partnerships, which allow TLM students to gain access to cutting edge software used in the localization industry. As he resumes a regular teaching role, he can refocus on teaching and mentoring TLM students, and redouble the effort he puts into his consulting practice and research projects, which have a positive impact on businesses and organizations who are successfully going global.
TIAG 8606
Localization PracticumCourse 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
TRLM 8522
Programming for I18n and L10nCourse Description
Almost everyone who will take this course has already learned at least one foreign language, and learning a programming language is actually much easier because the syntax is much more simple than any spoken language. Students will become proficient with HTML and CSS, two fundamental web technologies before moving on to JavaScript, the magic sauce that makes the web interactive. Students will learn how to internationalize and localize JavaScript apps and games, as well as how to create JavaScript applications from scratch. From there, students will move onto Python, which is a programming language we can use to automate such tasks as reading and writing to/from files, searching, data mining, find and replace, and more. We’ll also take a look at Ren'Py, the visual novel engine written in Python. This course will have something for everyone, from project managers, translators, to future localization engineers.
Terms Taught
TRLM 8621 Upcoming
Media and A/V LocalizationCourse Description
This course is divided into three sections: multilingual desktop publishing (DTP), web technologies and website localization, and audio-visual content creation and localization. We will spend time exploring most aspects of DTP, web, and A/V workflows 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 (CC) applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. You will create an ePortfolio in WordPress, and learn how to localize WordPress websites. And finally, you will learn how to create multilingual subtitles using Premiere Pro and CaptionHub.
Terms Taught
TRLM 8626
Multilingual DesktopPublishingCourse 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
TRLM 8628
Audio-Visual LocalizationCourse 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
TRLM 8630 Upcoming
Games LocalizationCourse 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
TRLM 8635
Website LocalizationCourse 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
TRLM 8695 Upcoming
Localization PracticumCourse Description
Localization Practicum provides real-world experience in the localization industry.
There are four ways to satisfy the practicum requirements for MAT and MATLM students:
1) Pursue an individual translation project (register for TIAG 8605 Translation Practicum instead),
2) Volunteer to work for an existing special localization-related project or create and run your own (Localization Practicum Section A),
3) Work at a localization-related internship or non-profit organization (Localization Practicum Section A).
4) Design your own localization-related research project (Localization Practicum Section A), or participate in the real-world research project related to program management under the guidance of a senior localization professional (Localization Practicum Section B).
SECTION A:
This section is designed for people who prefer to work on existing student-run projects, such as the student-led magazine, podcast, mentorship program, school outreach, etc., or create and run their own. You can also design and complete your own localization-related research project. This section can also include those students who are currently participating in an internship in a real-world company, or work for a nonprofit organization such as Women in Localization or GALA. The projects and internships all have a learning component, and students will be expected to share their experiences with each other to foster knowledge sharing.
SECTION B:
Localization Practicum Section B is run in conjunction with Program Management (TRLM 8605, also taught by Prof. Klaudinyova). It is designed to give Program Management students real-world localization management experience. Students work in small teams to design a program strategy for a specific type of a localization program, under the guidance and mentorship of a designated senior localization professional.
Terms Taught
TRLM 8698
Directed StudyCourse Description
Terms Taught
Professor Troyer’s finger is on the pulse of the localization industry to ensure that his courses reflect the needs of the language services 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. He also seeks out partnerships with localization tool providers, keeping the program on the cutting edge of an industry in constant flux. Most recently, he finalized an academic partnership with CaptionHub, which will greatly benefit students in his Audio-Visual Localization course, as well as students who enroll in his Middlebury Catalog subtitling course.
Professor Troyer has been teaching at the Institute since 2010.
Why More People Are Binging With The Subtitles On And What It Means For A Booming Industry hosted by AirTalk, LA Public Radio 89.3, July 11, 2023
How Can Generative AI (Positively) Transform Our Careers? hosted by Smartcat LocTalk23, June 15, 2023
Finding Your Best Track to a Career in the Localization Industry hosted by Women in Localization, October 21, 2022
Career Options for Localization Students with Max Troyer hosted by memoQ talks, August 14, 2022
Elevating the Localization Industry hosted by RWS, May 20, 2021
Transforming Training Programs and Courses to Maximize Learning hosted by GALA, March 25, 2021
| by Jason Warburg
Translation and localization management students Xiaofei Shen and Minting Lu gained valuable professional experience localizing an online game in development as a class project.
Networking and timely followup were key in launching a career in localization, says graduate Haoyang Qin.
| by Francesca Tantussi MATLM ’22
Alumna Francesca Tantussi shares how support from faculty and staff helped her launch a career in localization.
