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Vietnam · Education & LanguagesELSA Speak
Practice English pronunciation with real-time AI feedback, on the app a Vietnamese entrepreneur built out of her own struggle to be understood in English.
What it helps with
- Improving English pronunciationELSA uses speech recognition to correct English pronunciation sound by sound.
- Preparing for IELTS speakingLessons and tests target exam speaking skills.
- A Vietnamese-founded appELSA was founded by a Vietnamese entrepreneur and is widely used in Vietnam.
About ELSA Speak
ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) was co-founded in 2015 by Vietnamese entrepreneur Van Dinh Hong Vu and speech-recognition expert Dr. Xavier Anguera, born directly out of Vu's own experience: after moving from Vietnam to Stanford for her MBA, her strong Vietnamese accent kept classmates and professors from understanding her, despite fluent vocabulary and grammar. ELSA uses AI speech recognition to detect specific pronunciation mistakes in real time and give targeted feedback, rather than just grading overall fluency. It has grown into a global product with more than 60 million downloads across roughly 195 countries, and remains especially widely used inside Vietnam, even as its corporate headquarters has since relocated to Silicon Valley.
Key Features
- Real-Time Pronunciation Feedback: AI detects specific sounds you're mispronouncing and shows exactly what to fix, rather than a generic overall score.
- Personalized Learning Path: Lessons adapt based on your accent, mistakes and goals (workplace English, everyday conversation, exam prep).
- AI Conversation Practice: Practice natural, unscripted spoken dialogue with an AI tutor rather than only scripted exercises.
- Offline-Friendly Practice: Many exercises can be done without a constant internet connection, useful for daily practice on the go.
How to Get Started
- Download the ELSA Speak app and create an account.
- Take the initial assessment so ELSA can identify your specific pronunciation patterns and set your starting level.
- Complete short daily lessons and AI-guided conversation practice.
- Review your pronunciation feedback after each exercise and revisit flagged sounds over time.
Before you use it
- Fees: Subscriptions are often discounted heavily in promotions; avoid paying full price.
- Good to know: ELSA teaches English, not Vietnamese; foreigners use it for English accent training.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does ELSA Speak work with a foreign bank card in Vietnam?
- Yes - ELSA Speak accepts foreign-issued cards in Vietnam.
- Is ELSA Speak available in English?
- Yes, ELSA Speak has an English-language interface.
- Do I need a local phone number to use ELSA Speak?
- No, an international phone number generally works for ELSA Speak.
- Do I need local ID or residency for ELSA Speak?
- No, ELSA Speak doesn't require local ID or residency for visitors.
- Where can I use ELSA Speak?
- iOS · Android
- How much does ELSA Speak cost?
- Free basic lessons; ELSA Pro subscription for full access
