EFL Student Experiences with ELSA Speaking Application to Learn Pronunciation
Keywords:
Speaking Skills, Educational Research, English Learning, English Language Learners (ELLs)Abstract
This study investigates the experiences of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students using the ELSA Speak application to enhance their pronunciation skills. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through questionnaires and interviews with 14 second-semester students from the English Education program at Universitas PGRI Ronggolawe. The findings reveal that the ELSA Speak application is an effective tool for improving pronunciation, with approximately 80% of respondents expressing satisfaction and enjoyment in using the app. Students reported significant increases in confidence, rating their pronunciation progress between 8 and 9.5 out of 10. The application's interactive features and instant feedback were highlighted as key factors contributing to its effectiveness. However, challenges such as difficulties in voice detection and minor technical issues were noted, indicating limitations in automatic speech recognition technology. Overall, the study confirms the positive impact of the ELSA Speak application on EFL students' pronunciation skills and emphasizes its potential as a valuable resource in language education. Future research is recommended to explore the application’s effectiveness across different educational levels and its integration into formal curricula.
References
Akhmad, N. W., & Munawir, A. (2022). Improving the students’ pronunciation ability by using ELSA Speak app. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 10(1), 846-857.
Anggraini, A. (2022). Improving students' pronunciation skill using ELSA Speak application. Journey, 5(1), 135-141.
Darsih, E., Wihadi, M., & Hanggara, A. (2021). Using ELSA application in speaking classes: Students’ voices. In Proceedings of the 1st Universitas Kuningan International Conference on Social Science, Environment and Technology, UNiSET 2020, 12 December 2020, Kuningan, West Java, Indonesia.
Hanna, A. N., Harmayanthi, V. Y., & Astuti, S. (2022). The effect of ELSA speak app towards students’ speaking skill. In Proceeding of International Conference on Education (Vol. 1, pp. 16-20).
Hartono, J. (2018). Metode Pengumpulan Dan Teknik Analisis Data. Penerbit ANDI.
Huberman, & Miles. (1992). Teknik Pengumpulan dan Analisis Data Kualitatif. Jurnal Studi Komunikasi Dan Media, 02(1998), 1–11.
Islamy, I. (2019). Penelitian Survei dalam Pembelajaran dan Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris. Purwokerto: Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto.
Kholis, A. (2021). Elsa speak app: automatic speech recognition (ASR) for supplementing English pronunciation skills. Pedagogy: Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(1), 01-14.
Kobilova, N. R. (2022). Importance of pronunciation in english language communication. Academic research in educational sciences, 3(6), 592-597.
Luu, L. . T., Nguyen, T. . Q., Vo, N. . T., & Nguyen, M. . H. (2021). The Need of Applying English Learning Apps to Help Van Lang University Students Improve Their Spoken English Performance. AsiaCALL Online Journal, 12(2), 72–86.
Muamar, M., Ampa, A. T., & St Asmayanti, A. M. (2022). Improving The Students'pronunciation Using English Language Speech Assistant (Elsa) Application (A Pre-Experimental Research At The
Eleventh Grade Students Of Sman 9 Makassar). Journal of Language Testing and Assessment, 2(2), 119-124.
Nasikan, Z. S. (2023). The Elsa Speak Programme: Revolutionising Language Learning And Pronunciation Tool. Штучний інтелект та сучасні фітобіотехнології: теоретичні та практичні аспекти використання, 179.
Nguyen, T. N. Q., & Vo, N. T. T. (2021). The need of applying English learning apps to help Van Lang University students improve their spoken English performance. AsiaCALL Online Journal, 12(2), 72-86.
Octavianita, A., Fitri, N. R., Rafinazly, R., & Ihsan, M. T. (2022). The effectiveness of using cake application in improving students speaking skills. AUFKLARUNG: Jurnal Kajian Bahasa, Sastra Indonesia, Dan Pembelajarannya, 1(2), 80-85.
Prashant, P. D. (2018). Importance of pronunciation in English language communication. Pronunciation and communication, 7(2), 16-17.
Rosyid, A., & Hidayati, P. S. (2020). Teaching pronunciation through MALL: Promoting EFL learners’ pronunciation and their learning autonomy. In The Eleventh Annual International Symposium of Foreign Language Learning (AISOFOLL) (pp. 45-61).
Safarudin, R., Zulfamanna, Z., Kustati, M., & Sepriyanti, N. (2023). Penelitian kualitatif. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 3(2), 9680-9694.
Syabina, A., & Hz, B. I. R. (2024). ELSA Speak Application as a Learning Media in Practicing Student’s Speaking Skills: Students’ Voices. Scope: Journal of English Language Teaching, 8(2), 288-295.
Taqy, M. R. (2021). The use of ELSA Speak application as the media to learn pronunciation autonomously. Tran, T. L. N. (2019). Mobile learning and speech technology for language teachers’ professional development: A design-based study. ASCILITE 2017 - Conference Proceedings - 34th International Conference of Innovation, Practice and Research in the Use of Educational
Technologies in Tertiary Education, 163–167.
Utami, I. A., & Lintangsari, A. P. (2021). English Phonology For Language Learners: Exploring Learners’preferences. International Journal of Humanity Studies (IJHS), 4(2), 247-255.
Widyasari, P., & Maghfiroh, A. (2023). The Advantages of Artificial Intelligence ELSA Speak Application for Speaking English Learners in Improving Pronunciation Skills. Eltt, 9(1), 286-292.

