Speaking Practice App Review: ELSA Speak

 #speaking

#ELSA

#onlineapp

Before presenting my opinions about ELSA, I would like to say thank you to my fellow teachers for your positive comments and feedback. I set out to write for my fellow Gen Z teachers, who are passionate about using technology in the classroom, eager to experiment with new tools and always looking for ways to make language learning more engaging and accessible for students. This blog is an example of how Gen Z teachers can use creativity, memes, and pop culture references to discuss educational topics. Hope it can inspire you to show your true colour on your personal blog!

TL;DR:

Product: ELSA Speak

Pros: custom learning paths, real-time feedback, AI voice model

Cons: boring AI model voice, may affect students' perceptions of "good English speakers"

Price: around $20/month - roughly 260.000 VND

In Vietnam, people care A LOT about pronunciation and grammar. I think it is because there is a huge emphasis on accuracy and testing. When listening to someone speak, many Vietnamese people pay great attention to whether a word is mispronounced or a grammar mistake is made. As a result, speaking anxiety is common among many Vietnamese students. Sometimes it is not because they don't have great things to say, but because they fear that some unexpected grammar and pronunciation mistakes may overshadow whatever they are trying to say.

However, speaking is a cognitively complex task. The speakers have to make use of many different knowledge and skills (Figure 1) in the speaking process to convey the message. Mistakes, therefore, are unavoidable.

Figure 1: Components of second language speaking competence (Goh and Burns, 2012, p. 53)

As a result, students need to spend a lot of time to build confidence by practicing speaking. That is when ELSA steps in.

ELSA (short for English Language Speech Assistant) is an AI-powered app that helps learners improve their pronunciation. It listens to you speak, analyzes how close you are to native-like pronunciation, and gives real-time feedback.

After two weeks of testing, here is my review.

Advantages

• Real-time feedback: The app highlights exactly which syllables need work. It's like karaoke, but instead of scoring your singing, it helps you not mix up “ship” and “sheep.” As a teacher, I find this kind of targeted feedback hard to deliver on a large scale, especially in beginner classes. ELSA’s approach helps learners self-correct and become more aware of the phonemic details that can make or break communication.
• Custom learning paths: After a quick placement test, it builds daily bite-sized lessons tailored to your level. It reminds me a bit of Duolingo’s streak system. It keeps learners coming back with bite-sized goals and a little progress bar. For learners who struggle with self-regulation or motivation, this kind of structured routine can be a game-changer. It also aligns well with what we know from SLA (Second language acquisition) research: frequent, focused exposure leads to improvement.
• Voice recording & playback: In traditional classrooms, learners rarely get to hear themselves speak, let alone evaluate it. ELSA solves that problem by letting users compare their pronunciation with a model voice.  This is probably one of its unique features that would appeal to many students that strive to sound "native-like".

Disadvantages

Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect app (or at least I've never seen one). Here are the drawbacks:

• The price: The full subscription is around  $20/month, which is about 260k VND. It's not overly expensive, but definitely, not very student-friendly. As teachers, we want to recommend tools that are both effective and accessible. If you're planning to use this with a whole class, the price could be a deal-breaker unless there are student discounts or institutional partnerships.
• The free voice is... meh: The AI voice isn’t exactly exciting. It’s clear and correct, yes. But it sounds monotonous at times. For students, especially younger ones or those who enjoy dynamic model voice, the ELSA voice can feel a little flat.
• The idea of using "native" voice models is problematic. While the app promotes helping students "sound like a native speaker," this native-speakerism can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it caters to learners who aim to sound more "neutral" or American. But on the other hand, it risks reinforcing the idea that only native-speaker pronunciation is correct or prestigious. I can go on and on about this, but that is for a different blog post :D

Final verdict

If you're a teacher, ELSA Speak is a great extra tool to recommend to students, especially those struggling with pronunciation or preparing for speaking exams like IELTS or TOEFL. It’s interactive and smart, providing students with more English practice opportunities outside school.

Let me know if you have tried the app and if you have any other suggestions for me to try out!

REFERENCE:

Goh, C. C. M., & Burns, A. (2012). Teaching speaking: A holistic approach. New York: Cambridge University Press.