The Selvern Trust unlocks new opportunities with barrier-breaking language app

SELVE is an innovative, spoken English app designed to make English communication more accessible through real-time AI-driven support. Developed by the Selvern Trust for people whose career advancement has slowed due to a lack of confidence in speaking English, SELVE functions as an interactive platform to resolve these language barriers. 

Available for download with a free trial during the month of March 2026, SELVE addresses a growing need across industries for a tool that strengthens spoken English competencies. The app emerged from a recognition that, as a result of struggles to communicate in English, people not only lose self-confidence but also find themselves speechless in professional situations that reinforce feelings of defeat and missed opportunities. 

SELVE resolves these challenges through effective language instruction that empowers people to effectively navigate complicated real-life scenarios in English. Since its release, the app has garnered extremely positive responses, with over 200 users affirming that SELVE helped them improve their English language proficiency, citing the app’s interactive approach as the foundation of their growing confidence as English speakers.

Discussing the reception of SELVE, Vijendran Watson, Founder Chairman of the Selvern Trust said, “We noticed that proficiency in English was one of the most significant barriers in the way of aspiring young professionals. As such, we intended to create a practical and accessible solution for everyone from students to executives in corporates to overcome linguistic barriers to success. We are extremely pleased with the results we have seen so far and hope this will help others realise their utmost potential”. 

The app uses an approach that prioritises the needs of the learner. It begins by using an initial assessment to establish a user’s baseline English proficiency, after which SELVE encourages learners to progressively elevate their language capabilities. The app supports Sinhala and Tamil native language speakers and allows users to switch to their native language when unsure of a question. However, it maintains the learner’s immersion in the lesson by responding in English.  

Guided by the AI’s specialization in teaching spoken English, SELVE expands the learner’s skills through engaging content that mimics real-life scenarios. The learning experiences are further enhanced by vibrant presenter video, animations, interactive characters, and activities that demonstrate how app’s lessons can be applied to everyday scenarios. 

The app also features built in gamification elements, including points and leaderboards to facilitate learning through friendly competition. Users who respond to questions correctly can earn points that compound their gamification score. Incorrect answers prompt constructive feedback and the opportunity to retake the exercise, highlighting the supportive and encouraging nature of the app. 

Learners seeking to further amplify their knowledge of broader concepts are encouraged to use each lesson’s built-in Guidebook to access extended explanations, vocabulary lists, and practical tips. Furthermore, knowledge building activities are interspersed between presenter videos to help learners practice and reinforce newly acquired skills. 

SELVE represents the collective collaboration between multiple disciplines and coordination with Artin (Pvt) Ltd, for conceptualization and project management, Perfectus (Pvt) Ltd as the technology development partner, and the linguistic expertise of the Rainbow Institute. Furthermore, Artin (Pvt) Ltd continues to provide ongoing support for enterprise customers and end users of SELVE.

With plans to expand SELVE’s capabilities to include industry specific training where the AI takes on multiple roles to enable relevant, realistic practice, the Selvern Trust aims to empower talented Sri Lankans across the country with accessible educational resources and language support to help them realise their full potential.

The SELVE app is currently available for download on the App Store and Google Play platforms.

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