For example, when you speak out loud to the app, it can check whether you\u2019re pronouncing specific letters wrong or even applying stress on the wrong syllable.<\/p>\n
One catch is that it\u2019s only for American English\u2014<\/strong>there\u2019s no support for British English.<\/p>\n Still, ELSA Speak is meant to handle all levels of English learners<\/strong>. It has a huge collection of more than 25,000 exercises and learning materials.<\/p>\n I\u2019d mainly recommend it for pronunciation, but it also has other features that enhance your speaking in general and even teach you new vocabulary. You can practice video interviews on the app, learn about commonly confused words and even have free-flowing conversations with an AI chatbot.\u00a0<\/p>\n The app\u2019s pretty cutting-edge, so it\u2019s constantly improving. In fact, Forbes declared it as one of the top AI companies that could change the world. It even won funding from Google, which is why I’ve been looking to try it.<\/p>\n As you\u2019d probably expect, you have to do a speaking test first so the app can check your level.<\/p>\n I was actually curious about my results since I\u2019ve been learning English for a while:<\/p>\n The test only takes less than ten minutes, but I was impressed at how cleanly it broke down which sounds I was having trouble with. It also pointed out clearly that there was still room for improvement in my intonation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Once you receive your results, the app gives you a neat list of lessons to get started with.<\/p>\n I went straight into the \u201cDaily Lessons\u201d section, where ELSA Speak chose five lessons for me to practice that day:<\/p>\n My first impression of the app was that the technology behind it is very cool\u2014but it also has so much content that it\u2019s overwhelming figuring out which ones to tackle. This is where the \u201cDaily Lesson\u201d comes in.<\/p>\n Even though ELSA Speak has thousands of modules and lessons, you\u2019ll see the same types of exercises come up again and again.<\/p>\n Pronunciation exercises are at the heart of the app. You\u2019ll practice specific sounds first, then you\u2019ll build up to words, phrases and then full-on sentences.<\/p>\n These involve speaking out loud to the app, then it\u2019ll tell you whether your pronunciation is correct:<\/p>\n \u00a0 I was pretty surprised by this because I didn\u2019t know I was pronouncing the word \u201ccaused\u201d incorrectly!<\/p>\n If you get it wrong, the app gives you a detailed explanation of how it should sound like. This can be confusing at first, though, and it\u2019d sometimes take me several tries before I got correct pronunciation:<\/p>\n Aside from pronunciation exercises, you\u2019ll also encounter the following:<\/p>\n I enjoyed the variety of exercises because practicing never got too routine.<\/p>\n The sentence intonation and conversation game exercises seemed less useful for me, though.<\/p>\n A lot of users have complained that the sentence intonation exercises are too strict\u2014even native speakers don\u2019t do well in them sometimes!<\/p>\n The conversation game exercises made me feel like I was just repeating sentences out loud without absorbing how to use them in real life:<\/p>\n Aside from the daily exercises, you could choose lessons yourself from the app\u2019s huge catalogue. There are two types: Improve Pronunciation <\/strong>and Studying by Topic.<\/strong><\/p>\n The “Improve Pronunciation” lessons are more systematic, focusing on specific sounds like the schwa or TH sounds. These might even have video tutorials or detailed written explanations so you\u2019ll be clear on how to pronounce each sound:<\/p>\n Studying by Topic<\/strong> gives you situation-based lessons, such as ordering coffee, using common English slang and even doing job interviews. There\u2019s even a dating module!<\/p>\n All of these lessons still follow the same format as the personalized daily exercises. They\u2019re not arranged by level, though, so it can take some clicking around to figure out which ones work for you.<\/p>\n ELSA Speak\u2019s main focus is improving your pronunciation, but there\u2019s a lot more that you can get out of the app, especially if you have a premium subscription that unlocks all of its features.<\/p>\n You can leverage the app to get more speaking practice in English<\/a> (and be more confident the next time you\u2019re talking in English to another human):\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Right at the top of the homepage, you\u2019ll see AI conversations being advertised.<\/p>\n I find this feature much more useful than the original conversation practice exercises because you\u2019ll be forced to come up with your own responses.<\/p>\n For each conversation, the AI will ask you open-ended questions about a specific topic, such as \u201cWhat kind of party do you want to have?\u201d or \u201cIf you encounter conflict at work, how would you resolve it?\u201d You would then have to answer out loud, with the app converting your responses to a chat message.<\/p>\n ELSA Speak describes this feature as like having your own conversation tutor since the conversations are very spontaneous.<\/p>\n The app can even identify if the response you gave fits the situation well (or not).\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re about to take an official English-speaking exam, ELSA Speak can help you study well for the speaking portion.<\/p>\n It features detailed review material for most of the major English-speaking exams, including TOEFL<\/a>, IELTS<\/a> and TOEIC<\/a>, with more than 100 modules each.<\/p>\n There\u2019s even a business English course that\u2019s based on official textbooks by Oxford University Press.<\/span><\/p>\n Admittedly, given the massive amount of lessons available, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d realistically use these remaining ELSA Speak features as much.<\/p>\n Games<\/strong> include options like Missing Letters<\/strong> and Word Shuffle<\/strong>, where you have to guess what a word is based on its shuffled letters:<\/p>\n There\u2019s even a dictionary that\u2019s pronunciation-focused<\/strong>. When you look up a word, you can watch videos of people pronouncing it or even have the app check your pronunciation.<\/p>\n Finally, ELSA Speak also lets you save vocabulary from exercises into study sets<\/strong>. They\u2019re similar to pronunciation-based flashcards since the app will quiz you on how to pronounce them.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t find them very useful, though, compared to flashcards<\/a> from other language learning apps.<\/p>\n Now that I\u2019ve walked you through the main features of ELSA Speak, here\u2019s my overall impression of the app:<\/p>\n English pronunciation is difficult to master for a reason, even for advanced learners. It\u2019s hard to get specific feedback on what you need to improve on! Native speakers can tell right away if your accent is off, but they won\u2019t always be able to pinpoint why exactly.<\/p>\n ELSA Speak uses a science-based method to assess which part of your speech you need to improve on<\/a>. You\u2019re constantly getting detailed feedback about your English pronunciation<\/strong>, and the exercises it suggests are picked out for you specifically.<\/p>\n Even a human tutor wouldn\u2019t be able to do this in such a detailed way. \u00a0<\/p>\n ELSA Speak relies a lot on pronunciation drills, but even after a week straight of logging onto the app, I never found it boring<\/strong> because there\u2019s a wide variety of exercises. You can practice your listening, learn how to talk about pets or even chat freely with AI about your college experience.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Another unique feature was their video call lessons. While saying conversational lines out loud, video snippets appear to make it seem like someone is on a Zoom call with you. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n With so many language learning apps touting impressive taglines these days, it\u2019s normal to be skeptical, but I felt like my pronunciation was improving after a week.<\/p>\n As an advanced English learner, I thought my pronunciation was pretty good but not perfectly native-like, and ELSA Speak gave me a concrete roadmap<\/strong> for getting better at it.<\/p>\n The schwa sound<\/a> often trips up English learners, and yet it\u2019s essential to sounding like a native speaker. As I kept doing the exercises, I was hitting the schwa sound more consistently.<\/p>\n The app also gives encouraging feedback, which helps with feeling more motivated.<\/p>\n This is my biggest gripe with ELSA Speak. I love how it has so many lessons, but they can still improve their app design so a new user wouldn\u2019t struggle with feeling bombarded by all the information.<\/p>\n The first time I used it, I got overwhelmed because there were so many options for lessons<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On top of this, the pronunciation lessons had IPA symbols for their titles, which English learners wouldn\u2019t necessarily be familiar with.<\/p>\n For the most part, their speech algorithm seems pretty good, and it always caught my errors.<\/p>\n The downside is that it can be a bit too strict. Many native speakers\u2014even those who are English teachers with a standard accent\u2014say that the app only gives them a score of around 80% or less.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also easier to pronounce words and phrases correctly, but once you practice intonation with sentences, the app gets a bit too rigid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ELSA Speak is based on the textbook American accent, so if a native speaker\u2019s accent deviates from that, they\u2019ll likely get marked down.<\/p>\n There are three pricing options for ELSA Speak: Free, Pro and Premium.<\/p>\n Free<\/strong> is very limited because you don\u2019t get to access most of the lessons. It feels more like a \u201csampler\u201d of the app.<\/p>\n For most users who are planning to use it regularly, the next tier\u2014Pro<\/strong>\u2014would probably be the most suitable choice. You\u2019ll have access to all of the lessons as well as daily recommended practice.<\/p>\n Premium<\/strong>\u2014the highest tier\u2014makes the app\u2019s other features unlimited for you, like AI speaking practice and even all of the English exam preparation courses.<\/p>\n ELSA Pro is at around $19.99 per month, while Premium is a few dollars higher. Here’s the app\u2019s pricing page<\/a> for more info.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you’re not sure about subscribing, ELSA Speak lets you try out out some exercises on the website, and there’s also a seven-day free trial.\u00a0<\/p>\n BoldVoice is one of the closest competitors to ELSA Speak, but it has much more of a human touch.<\/p>\n It still relies on AI-powered speech recognition to give you feedback on your pronunciation, but it also includes video lessons from actual humans\u2014specifically, accent coaches from Hollywood.<\/p>\n Say It, an app by Oxford University Press, teaches you both the American and British accents<\/a>.<\/p>\n Instead of AI, it assesses your pronunciation through sound waves. When you speak out loud, the app generates a soundwave chart, which you can compare with that of a native speaker.<\/p>\n If you want to get listening and speaking practice as well, Speechling is worth looking into. This long-running program lets you record yourself saying a sentence in English, and then a native speaker will give you personalized feedback.<\/p>\n The sentences function as flashcards, so you can review them and learn some grammar and vocabulary too.<\/p>\n Getting a lot of input from how native speakers talk is also part of improving your pronunciation. FluentU immerses you in over a thousand lessons with authentic listening content from English movies, TV shows and more. These are suggested to you based on your level.<\/p>\n The app even lets you practice your pronunciation with quizzes after each video that include speaking questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re serious about improving your English pronunciation, ELSA Speak is one of the most reliable apps<\/a> you can download. The AI-based feedback is helpful and personalized, and there are always new exercises to try.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bit on the pricier side, requiring a subscription to be usable, so you\u2019ll need to be committed to regular practice to make it worthwhile.<\/p>\n While it has lessons for beginners, most of its content is geared towards higher-level learners, as the pronunciation lessons often assume more advanced vocabulary.<\/p>\n Just keep in mind that it\u2019s mainly for getting your English speaking closer to a standard American accent\u2014and you\u2019ll still want to combine it with other resources if you\u2019re aiming to reach speaking fluency!<\/p>\n \r\nIf you\u2019re like me and prefer learning English on your own time, from the comfort of your smart device, I\u2019ve got something you\u2019ll love.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nWith FluentU<\/a>\u2019s Chrome Extension, you can turn any YouTube or Netflix video with subtitles into an interactive language lesson. That means you can learn from real-world content<\/strong>, just as native English speakers actually speak. \r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nYou can even import your favorite YouTube videos into your FluentU account. If you\u2019re not sure where to start, check out our curated library of videos<\/strong> that are handpicked for beginners and intermediate learners, as you can see here:\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nFluentU brings native English videos within reach. With interactive captions<\/strong>, you can hover over any word to see an image, definition, and pronunciation.\r\n<\/p> \r\nJust click on the word to see other example sentences and videos where the word is used in different contexts. Plus, you can add it to your flashcards<\/strong>! For example, if I tap on the word \"viral,\" this is what pops up:\r\n<\/p> \r\n \r\nWant to make sure you really remember what you've learned? We\u2019ve got you covered. Practice and reinforce the vocab from each video<\/strong> with learn mode. Swipe to see more examples of the word you\u2019re learning, and play mini-games with our dynamic flashcards.\r\n<\/p> \r\nThe best part? FluentU tracks everything you\u2019re learning and uses that to create a personalized experience just for you<\/strong>. You\u2019ll get extra practice with tricky words and even be reminded when it\u2019s time to review\u2014so nothing slips through the cracks.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\tStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download our from the App Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>How Lessons in ELSA Speak Work<\/h2>\n
Speaking Test and Daily Lessons<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/ELSA-Speak-speaking-test-results.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"ELSA](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/ELSA-Speak-Daily-Lessons.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPronunciation Exercises<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/445375918_1814794939016737_9176545581806302366_n-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/446006319_1125915641798614_3915508831028326918_n.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOther Types of Exercises<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-listening-exercise.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-conversation-practice.jpg\")
<\/p>\nChoosing Lessons on Your Own<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-video-explanations.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-topic-based-lessons.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOther Features of the App<\/h2>\n
AI Conversations<\/h3>\n
![\"elsaspeak](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/445377154_8405178312830287_5574635546071559231_n.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEnglish Certificate Courses\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Games, Dictionaries and Study Sets<\/h3>\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-games.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPros and Cons of ELSA Speak<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Pro:<\/strong> Systematic and Science-Based <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pro: Diverse Exercises \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/elsa-speak-video-call-exercises.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPro: Genuinely Helpful for Pronunciation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"elsa](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/446007166_759234596287936_5610633396694563281_n.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCon: Overwhelming Amount of Content<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Con: Speech Algorithm Sometimes Inaccurate <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pricing<\/h2>\n
Alternatives to ELSA Speak<\/h2>\n
BoldVoice<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/boldvoice-logo.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/h3>\nSay It<\/a>
![\"say](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/say-it-app-logo.jpeg\"){kind=logo}
<\/h3>\nSpeechling<\/a>
![\"speechling](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/speechling-logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/h3>\nFluentU<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"FluentU](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\nSo Is ELSA Speak Worth It? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
And One More Thing\u2026<\/h2>\r\n
![\"learn-English-with-FluentU-on-YouTube\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/FluentU-English-music-video-on-youtube-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n![\"learn-english-with-videos\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/English-5.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n![\"FluentU-english-video-with-interactive-subtitles\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/FluentU-English-video-on-app.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n![\"FluentU-English-vocab\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/FluentU-English-vocab-viral-on-app.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n![\"FluentU-English-vocab-quiz\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/FluentU-English-vocab-quiz-web.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n