Automatic Speech Recognition (Speechnotes) and the English Pronunciation

Abstract

The current study determined the importance of pronunciation through the Speechnotes application. A total of 73 university students (33 males and 40 females) were enrolled in a descriptive and non-experimental research. The data were collected through a survey with 31 items on a Likert scale and, 3 open-ended questions. It was validated by experts and with the coefficient Cronbach’s Alpha (0,856). Moreover, it was based on three research questions: What are the dimensions and phases of the Speechnotes application? To what extend does Speechnotes application benefit the English pronunciation? What are the strategies that learners use to improve their pronunciation? The results revealed that Speechnotes application is a good means of practicing pronunciation because it has free access, the speaker's voice adapts smoothly, and it converts the spoken phrases and words into text. Learners considered that Speechnotes have several benefits such as encouraging them to improve their pronunciation and speaking and oral communication skills. It assists students to develop pronunciation features, and it promotes autonomy work. Furthermore, there are many strategies to put into practice the improvement of pronunciation. Most of the students preferred the use of media by watching videos or listening to music or podcasts in English and they usually repeat the pronunciation of sounds and words. However, pronunciation rules are infrequently considered as a principal strategy because learners do not have sufficient knowledge of them, and they are not implemented in the curriculum or lesson planning.