Preparing a community handout in more than one language

A multilingual handout works when every reader gets a page that feels written for them. Give each language the same facts, the same layout and the same respect. Then have someone who reads that language check it.

You do not need a design team. You need a simple structure and a few careful reviewers.

Which languages should I include?

Include the languages your community reads. Ask a few residents, a surau or temple committee, or a club. Do not guess.

Our tools and guides are available in English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese, so you can point readers to a matching page. Check that each linked page exists in the language you promise.

How do I lay it out?

Use the same structure in every language so readers can compare if they wish. This makes updates easier too.

• One page per language where the text is longer than a few lines.
• The same headings in the same order.
• The language name at the top, written in that language.
• The same fonts, sizes and spacing so no language looks like an afterthought.

Check that Chinese and Tamil characters display correctly before printing. Some printers drop them.

Try this: prepare and review a handout

Follow these steps for each handout.

1. Write the English or Bahasa Malaysia version first, in short sentences.
2. Mark any term that may not translate, such as a place name or an app name.
3. Ask a fluent person to write or adapt each language, not just translate word for word.
4. Ask a second fluent person to read it as a resident would.
5. Fix anything that sounds stiff, then compare the facts side by side.

If you cannot find a reviewer for a language, leave that language out for now rather than printing something unchecked.

What should every version say?

Keep the same core in all languages: what the resource is, that it is free, that using it is optional, where to find more, and the date the page was prepared. See keeping printed resource dates and sources visible.

Add the get support page link in each language, so a reader in distress finds help in the language they read best.

How do I keep the links safe?

A QR code can point to the wrong language or a dead page. Scan each one on a real phone and read the page that opens. Our guide on checking a QR destination before printing lists the steps.

Adapting it for real community life

Some readers will not use a smartphone, so print enough copies. Some read right to left or in a script that needs bigger type, so test with a real reader. For older readers, see making an older-adult resource pack readable.

If your handout mentions a practice, include the plain line that it is fine to stop if it brings up distress or dizziness. Do not describe an app screen or setting you have not checked yourself.

Where to go next

See the wider topic of accessibility, language access and digital confidence. You can find more in our sharing calm guides.

When the proofreading is done, Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is an optional place to rest your eyes and attention.