[Socrative Group] Technology Enhance Language Learning
Enhancing Students’ Pronunciation Skill By Using ELSA Application In Indonesian Higher Education Context
INTRODUCTION
A. The concept of the topic:
According to Richards and Renandya (2002:
255), vocabulary is a core component of
language proficiency and provides much of
the basis for how learners speak, listen, read
and write (as cited in Rohmatillah, P. 70).
Teaching vocabulary is a crucial aspect in
learning a language as languages are based
on words (Alqahtani, 2015). Cook (1996 as
cited in Pourhosein Gilakjani, 2016)
Pronunciation is “the production of English
sounds”, it is learnt by repeating sounds and
correcting them when produced inaccurately.
Teaching pronunciation to adults is one of
the most difficult issues in ELT (Strevens,
1991). In teaching pronunciation, teachers
should be provided with courses and
materials that help them improve their
pronunciation instruction (Fraser, 2000).
B. The concept of the context
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica
“higher education, any of various types of
education given in postsecondary institutions
of learning and usually affording, at the end
of a course of study, a named degree,
diploma, or certificate of higher studies”.
C. The concept of the 21th century skill
Critical thinking helps students figure stuff
out for themselves when they don’t have a
teacher at their disposal. Then, technology
literacy goes another step further to teach
students about the machines involved in the
Information Age and gives students the basic
information they need to understand gadgets'
performance.
Lecturer : Ratu Sarah Pujasari, M. Pd
RESEARCH FINDING
A. What is the technological tool?
ELSA (English Language Speaking
Assistant) is the app which helps the
user to improve the speaking skill by
exercising to speak with various
context and the feedback for the
exercise and designed for all levels of
English learners. The app employs
“proprietary artificial intelligence”
including automatic speech recognition
to provide feedback on users’
pronunciation accuracy.
B. The rationale for choosing the technological tool
1. The app allows users to select area of focus for
learning, and shows where they can improve.
2. The app has a built in feature which gives users a
percentage indicating their pronunciation levels.
3. Provides users: instruction, native audio, practice,
feedback, simulated “conversation” practice
C. Objectives of the technological tool
The app offers 3 main exercise types: pronunciation
(speak the proposed word or phrase, get the feedback
for each phoneme, and phonetic hints to fix existing
errors); intonation (practice word syllable stress:
sentence intonation and rhythm); and conversation
training (practice real-life conversations and receive
instant feedback on their pronunciation and intonation
at word level).
D. How the tool relates to the 21 st century skills?
This app need the critical thinking of the users since it is
engaging the problem-solution thing by giving feedback
to the users. The use of the application will help the
students to sharpen their technology literacy skill by
understanding how the technology of the app works.
Asri Ainun Nisa [172122099] | Delia Nandasari Ramadhan [172122105] | Wanti Amelia [172122090]
APPLICATION OF THEORY TO PRACTICE
A. How the tool works?
The system architecture powering this app implements a client-
server processing scheme. For every trial submits the spoken audio
to the server as well as information about the user and the exercise
being spoken. It then gathers the processed results and presents them
to the user. Audio is streamed to the server in real time so that
processing in the server can start before the user finishes speaking
the sentences, therefore receiving a quicker answer. When speaking
a sentence, the user is instructed when to start speaking and then end
pointing detection is performed on the server to stop processing and
return results.
B. Classroom procedure
Pre: the teacher greet the students and do the ice breaking by
playing the games about guessing words. During: the students are
asked to mention about sentence of daily life. Then the teacher gives
students are exposed to the use of ELSA app and its benefits. The
students are asked to make pronunciation log as the report for their
work at home and make vocabulary log to register their finding of
new words. Post: the teacher explain that the finding of new words
will be discussed in the next meeting, then closing
CRITICAL REFLECTION
A. Advantages
Very attractive display; exercise starts from B. Disadvantage
pronouncing words, phrases, and sentences;
Even with the paid
provide feedback and review; detection of version of the app,
pronunciation errors with an accuracy rate of users only get access
95%; varies topics; provides an interactive
to more lessons; it
dictionary, users may assess their level of
does not offer a
proficiency.
substantially better
C. How it enhance learning the skills? version.
ELSA Speak listens to the way language learners pronounce words,
sentences or conversations to pinpoint exact errors and provide real-
time feedback on pronunciation mistakes with specific suggestions
on how to improve, so the students will know their learning progress
of pronunciation.
English Education Programme of Siliwangi University [2020]
CONCLUSION
ELSA Application is one of many
technological tools which can help the
development of students’ pronunciation and
two 21st century skills: critical thinking and
technology literacy. By providing the
feedback and review, mispronounced
detection, and another features which has
available on this application, it can exercise
the students to have a good pronunciation.
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