RendezVu, the NovaUCD-based elearning company, today announced the official beta launch of ExamSpeak.com, a next generation language learning platform. ExamSpeak.com replicates the speaking exam for English language students in real time, through an immersive environment, so that students develop the skills needed to succeed in their exams.

RendezVu has been selected to showcase its unique ExamSpeak.com product in the ‘iGap – the next wave of Irish disruption’ session at tomorrow’s Dublin Web Summit in the RDS.

 
Student Marthe Buisson and Paul Groarke, Founder & CEO, RendezVu   

It is estimated that worldwide there are 2 million language students annually preparing to take internationally recognised English speaking exams such as Cambridge KET (Key English Test), Cambridge PET (Preliminary English Test) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

However there is currently no convenient or practical way for most of these students to practise their English language skills.

To solve this problem RendezVu has developed ExamSpeak.com which enables students   experience the speaking exam, whenever they want, as often as they want, before actually taking it.

ExamSpeak.com replicates the speaking test environment in real time with real questions and responses so that students can develop and improve the English language skills they need to succeed in the exam.

Students log into the ExamSpeak.com virtual test room and introduce themselves to the virtual examiners and meet other test takers. Here students have the opportunity to take part in an English conversation by answering and asking the same questions which will be asked in the actual speaking exam. As in a real exam, the examiner’s questions change depending on the answers given by students.

As students interact, the system shows them their mistakes and helps them to understand their errors so that they can improve their performance.

Students are awarded a score based on the respective English exam marking scheme. Points are awarded based on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, accuracy and ability to communicate.

Over time students can develop their responses to improve their test score and their ability to communicate in English and develop a deeper and more dynamic understanding of the English language, through using it in context.

According to Paul Groarke, CEO, RendezVu, “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’. ExamSpeak.com provides that validation and is available when learners need it.” He added, “English language students can now join ExamSpeak.com, prepare for their exams and provide us with feedback on our beta product.”

RendezVu, headquartered in NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, has already won a number of Awards 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.

RendezVu was founded in 2008 by Paul Groarke who has over 20 years experience working within the technology sector, including Baltimore Technologies.

Join ExamSpeak.com at www.examspeak.com.

ENDS

9 June 2011

For further information contact Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712 or Paul Groarke, RendezVu e: paul@rendezvu.com, t: +353 1 716 3615.

Editor’s Notes

RendezVu’s ExamSpeak.com is a next generation language learning platform which provides an immersive environment for English language students who are preparing for their speaking exams.

NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is the hub of innovation and knowledge transfer activities at University College Dublin. NovaUCD is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research and for the development of co-operation with industry and business. NovaUCD as a purpose-built centre also nurtures high-tech and knowledge-intensive enterprises such as RendezVu. NovaUCD has been funded through a unique public-private partnership that includes AIB Bank, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers, UCD and Xilinx. 

Update August 2011

RendezVu are delighted to announce that ExamSpeak Beta has been released. ExamSpeak prepares students for their English speaking exam.

This product is an online English course for students sitting the KET Test. You can enter our test room and introduce yourself to the examiners. Meet the other test taker. Answer the examiner’s questions then get feedback on your performance.

This spoken English course allows you to learn English online and improve your test score.