Envisaging the Needs for Designing L2 Pronunciation Assessment

Abstract

The study aims to discuss the need analysis for understanding the EFL teachers and learners voices towards the integration technology to evaluate and assess their L2 pronunciation. This study was the preliminary study of the design-based research of the O'Speak version 1.0. The O'Speak version 1.0 is an android-based speaking test which has been developing for over six months. The O'Speak integrated the Feuerstein's Mediated Language Experience principles into the L2 testing. It is designed to respond to the local need of a speaking test which facilitates and helps teachers/lecturers to see the learners' speaking abilities in the EFL context. In this initial stage development of O'Speak, this study was investigated under descriptive qualitative with three instruments used: observation and closed-ended questionnaire. These data were then analyzed used SPSS 25. Drawing on a series of analyses, the study has a major finding. This study urges the development of a tool to assess EFL learners' pronunciation ability. The developed tool should be integrated technology. In this context, a tool is proposed to have significances in their learnings.

O’speak for English Phonetic and Phonology Class: What’s on Students’ Mind?

“…As the continuation of the prior study on the development of O'Speak (Kusumaningrum et al, 2020), this study explored the students' views and perceptions on the constructed O'Speak under a qualitative research design with a case study procedure (Gall, et al, 2003). This study was carried out in late November to December 2019.…”

“…The similarity is in this study's general topic, in which it focuses on the use of automated pronunciation evaluation tools for assessing non-native English pronunciation. The difference is the use of applications because this study uses O'Speak application in which it was developed by the writers (Kusumaningrum et al, 2020) by integrating Feuerstein's Mediated Learning Experience principles. O'Speak can be stated as one of Artificial Intelligence (AI) products in the educational field.…”

“…Since this study used a new application in which it is developed by the writers (Kusumaningrum et al, 2020), its research problem is to investigate the students' perceptions toward the use of O'Speak in speaking assessment, especially in the component of English Phonetics and Phonology materials. The context of this study is in English as a Foreign Language classroom at a university.…”