{"id":134754,"date":"2021-02-01T16:06:27","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T02:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=134754"},"modified":"2021-02-16T15:42:57","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T01:42:57","slug":"international-language-education-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/02\/01\/international-language-education-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"International language education tech competition at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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Five first-time entrepreneurs are vying to create the best new product to fill a need in world language education. The technology competition, LaunchPad<\/abbr><\/em>, is in its fourth year. It is hosted by the Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center<\/a> (Tech Center) in the College of Arts, Languages & Letters<\/a> at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa.<\/p>\n

The 2021 competition on February 20, 10–11:15 a.m. HST<\/abbr>, will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Radio personality Burt Lum, host of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Public Radio\u2019s Bytemarks Café, will emcee LaunchPad<\/abbr><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Richard Medina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The five startup companies are based in the U.S., Canada, Germany and New Zealand. During the competition, the finalists will pitch their innovation. A panel of experienced professionals from a wide variety of fields will provide feedback, and ultimately select the winner. Audience members will also cast their votes for a People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

Both winners receive an honorary plaque, and all finalists will receive exposure and access to thousands of language educators, successful companies and The Language Flagship<\/a> international network.<\/p>\n

“One of the underlying ideas of the LaunchPad<\/abbr><\/em> is to intersect the expertise of learning professionals with technology entrepreneurs during the nascent development of innovative and impactful learning technologies,” said Richard Medina<\/strong>, project lead and specialist at the Tech Center.<\/p>\n

Finalists:<\/h2>\n