Language selection screen – Should it be present Before or Within the Form?
We are building an application that allows a user/owner to create forms and get input from anonymous users (eg:- Customer satisfaction surveys) . And we recently introduced a feature that allows the user/owner to provide the translation of the Form he created.
Now the Dilemma is should we display the language selection before the form that the anonymous users (The ones that are going to answer the survey) views or Should it be present in the answering form itself so that the user could easily switch languages any time.
Things to consider
- The forms will be distributed through emails and also will be answerable through Kiosk screens
- The system will be implemented in a country where the majority's primary language for communication is not English.
- The applications user interface has the primary language as English and Secondary as the local language.
- Any user may or may not answer the forms everyday (Eg:- A Mall Kiosk).
- From the technical aspect there is nothing that prevents us from switching the language in the form.
- The system supports 150+ languages.
- It is okay to submit text in any language.
- If you switch language at the form,The form will reload and the data will be lost.
The First approach
Lead the user to this page
And redirect to the Form after language selection
Second Approach
The user will be directed to this page and can switch languages any time
Relevant arguments came up for First approach
- We cannot dictate a user to take the survey in English by default in a non English speaking country.
- Many of the language selection is done this way (Operating system start-up screens, Installation screens, In call voice interfaces etc.
Relevant arguments came up for Second approach
The first approach adds one more screen for the User to fill up.
The user can switch the language if he mistakenly selected a language.
So which one I should go for in terms of ease of use for the customer?