Supporting independent speaking practice at PolyU

About the institution

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is one of Hong Kong’s leading universities, educating tens of thousands of students across disciplines with English as the medium of instruction. Its English Language Centre supports students across the university and has been at the forefront of exploring how AI can enhance language learning and teaching – from AI chatbots for independent learning to AI-supported feedback and assessment.

The challenge

With employees working in different roles, locations, and international contexts, Exelliq wanted to offer English training that could respond to individual needs and different proficiency levels.

Traditional group classes had proven hard to sustain: fixed schedules rarely fit around day-to-day business, customer projects, travel, production requirements, and shifting workloads, while a single class pace cannot easily address different learning needs and proficiency levels.

Exelliq was therefore looking for a modern and flexible learning solution that employees could integrate independently into their working day while providing relevant practice at the appropriate individual level.

Why Talkpal

Talkpal works for PolyU because it acts as an always-available speaking partner. Students practise real conversation whenever it suits them, on web or mobile, and the AI adapts to each student’s level – so practice stays useful across a cohort with very different starting points. Crucially, it sits alongside teaching rather than replacing it: teachers guide how students use the platform, and students arrive at class with more speaking time behind them.

“ Talkpal has been a great resource for our students to use alongside guidance from our teachers. It’s easy to use and gives them the extra speaking practice they need to feel more confident using the language.”

– Adam Forrester, English Language Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The outcome

Talkpal gives students another option for regular, independent speaking practice outside scheduled class time. At the English Language Centre, it is used as a supplementary resource alongside teacher guidance and opportunities for human interaction.