ELSA Speaking Check
pronunciationspeakingaccuracypracticeindividuallow prep10-15 min
Students use an AI-powered pronunciation app (ELSA Speak, Speechify, Speak and Improve) to get phoneme-level feedback on their speech. Results identify specific sound weaknesses. Teacher uses the data to plan targeted pronunciation lessons.
Procedure
- Setup (week 1): all students download ELSA Speak (or similar). Complete the initial assessment.
- The app produces a personalised profile — which phonemes each learner struggles with.
- Weekly practice (15 min/day outside class): students work through app-suggested drills on their weakest phonemes.
- Classroom check-in (10 min per week): teacher reviews app-generated data. Identifies class-wide weak sounds.
- In-class targeting: next lesson focuses on the sound(s) the app flagged for most students.
- Progress chart: monthly, students track improvements in their app profile.
Why It Works
- Individualised diagnosis: apps catch phoneme-level issues a teacher can't diagnose for 30 learners.
- Independent practice: pronunciation work scales to homework; the teacher focuses class time on the diagnostic pattern.
- Instant feedback: the app corrects within seconds; learners don't practise errors.
- Data-driven lessons: aggregate data tells the teacher what the class actually needs, not what the syllabus predicts.
Apps to Consider
| App | Strengths |
|---|---|
| ELSA Speak | Best phoneme-level feedback; strong coaching model |
| Speechify | Intonation and rhythm; best for prosody |
| Cambridge Speak and Improve | Exam-aligned (PTE, IELTS) |
| Google Pronunciation Practice | Free, basic, works in any browser |
| Talk Pal | Conversational, AI partner |
Variations
- Paired pronunciation audit: students exchange app data with a partner (anonymised). Identify shared issues.
- In-class sound-of-the-week: whichever sound the class-wide data flags → 5-minute warm-up for a week.
- Self-recorded check: students record a sentence in week 1 and again in week 8. Compare using app's scoring.
- Target sentence bank: curate 20 sentences rich in a target sound; students use the app to practise these specifically.
Tips
- No app replaces a teacher entirely: use the data, but validate with your own ear. Apps over-flag and under-flag.
- Privacy: some apps record audio. Brief students on app privacy policies.
- Frame as self-coaching, not homework. Learners who approach the app as their personal coach engage more deeply.
- Don't compare student to student. Everyone's baseline differs; compare each student to their own past.
Source
Evers, K. & Chen, S. (2021) Effects of automatic speech recognition software on pronunciation for adults with different learning styles. Journal of Educational Computing Research. ELSA Speak platform documentation; peer-reviewed in Kartal & Korucu (2022).