A start-up company based at NovaUCD, RendezVu, has announced the official beta launch of its next-generation language learning platform ExamSpeak.com, which replicates the speaking exam for English-language students in real time.
RendezVu was founded in 2008 by Paul Groarke, who has more than 20 years of experience working within the technology sector, including Baltimore Technologies.
It is estimated that worldwide there are 2m language students annually preparing to take internationally recognised English speaking exams such as Cambridge KET (Key English Test) and Cambridge PET (Preliminary English Test).
ExamSpeak.com replicates the speaking test environment in real time with real questions and responses so students can develop and improve the English-language skills they need to succeed in the exams.
As students interact, the system shows them their mistakes and helps them to understand their errors. Students are awarded a score based on the respective English exam marking scheme.
“What differentiates ExamSpeak.com is that it provides authentic feedback. Building the confidence that learners need requires validation from an authentic, interactive source, so called ‘face-time’,” said Groarke.
RendezVu has won a number of awards to date, including the NovaUCD 2008 Entrepreneur Award and the David Manley 2009 Emerging Entrepreneur Award. Last month, the company was one of the overall winners of Enterprise Ireland’s second iGAP (Internet Growth Acceleration Programme) and was selected to present at tomorrow’s Dublin Web Summit.
Photo: Paul Groarke, founder and CEO, RendezVu
