Assessing the Effectiveness of ELSA and Orai Apps in Improving English Language Proficiency Among Hindi-Speaking Indians
摘要
The students who aspire to become professionals find difficulty in developing the English Language proficiency because of being heavily loaded with the subjects of core competency and substantial Mother Tongue impact in their Hindi language, such students are in the need of effective solution. Although language labs are available, they necessitate continuous assessment by instructors, which can be a daunting task. Given the large number of students assigned to them, teachers may resort to generic evaluations, limiting their effectiveness in enhancing language proficiency. Therefore, MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) may become an easy, accessible, portable tool in this era where learning through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a convenient method. The ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) and Orai (AI Powered Speech Coach) app as the MALL may turn out to be a beneficial help in improving one’s language, focusing on developing the skills without the intervention of a physical instructor. The Apps offer innovative solutions for enhancing pronunciation skills. While ELSA takes a comprehensive approach, integrating pronunciation improvement with overall English proficiency development, Orai focuses specifically on speech enhancement for effective English communication. This work employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research techniques, to analyze the effectiveness of language learning apps. The investigation utilized primary and secondary data sources, leveraging the Classroom Action Research (CAR) methodology to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The data collection process was deliberately confined to students from the English department at the same Institute, aiming to achieve a homogeneous sample and increase the reliability of the findings by reducing potential variability. The participant feedback yielded actionable insights, pinpointing areas for enhancement in the apps. A comprehensive analysis of the apps’ features, functionality, and user interface revealed valuable lessons for users and developers alike, enabling the latter to identify and address key areas for improvement, ultimately refining and elevating their products. ELSA and Orai are highly effective tools for improving English language skills, particularly for Hindi-speaking professionals in India. However, based on this comparative analysis, ELSA appears to have an edge over Orai in most categories, particularly in terms of training, real-time feedback, user-friendliness, and progress tracking. Overall effectiveness of ELSA is about 4% better than Orai.