Al-Irsyad: Journal of Education Science
Vol 5 No 2 (2026): Al-Irsyad: Journal of Education Science

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ELSA SPEAK FOR FIRST-SEMESTER EFL STUDENTS

Dadan Hidayat (Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika, Indonesia)
Chodidjah Chodidjah (Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika, Indonesia)
Rina Lestari (Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika, Indonesia)
Kalsum Kalsum (Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of the ELSA Speak application in improving the speaking ability of first-semester EFL students. Many beginner learners still face difficulties in speaking English, especially in pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary use, and confidence during oral communication. To address these problems, ELSA Speak provides AI-supported speaking exercises, pronunciation feedback, and repeated practice that allow students to learn independently in a flexible environment. The research applied a pre-experimental method using a one-group pre-test and post-test design. The participants were 25 first-semester English students who attended eight treatment sessions over four weeks. Students’ speaking performance was evaluated through several aspects, including pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and confidence. The findings showed that students’ speaking scores improved after using the application. The average score increased from 56.12 in the pre-test to 78.36 in the post-test. In addition, the paired-sample t-test indicated a statistically significant improvement (t(24) = 20.31, p < .001). The study suggests that the ELSA Speak application may support speaking development by providing interactive and motivating speaking practice. Furthermore, AI-based mobile learning applications can serve as supportive tools in technology-assisted language learning for EFL students.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jse

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

Al-Irsyad: Journal of Education Science (AIJES), sebuah jurnal nasional peer-review elektronik, menyediakan forum untuk menerbitkan artikel penelitian asli, artikel ulasan dari kontributor, dan berita teknologi baru yang terkait dengan Ilmu Pendidikan. Jurnal ini disediakan untuk penulis, guru, ...