Vietnamese EFL University Students' Perceptions and Experiences of Using the ELSA Speak Application for Developing English Oral Fluency

This case study examines Vietnamese EFL university students’ perceptions and experiences with using the ELSA Speak application to enhance their English oral fluency. Over a four-week period, seven participants engaged with the app, having data collected through screen recordings, daily reflective diaries and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that learners valued a combination of authentic interaction, structured repetition and explicit feedback. Features that supported personalisation, motivation, and future goals, such as 'Study by Topic', 'Improve Pronunciation', 'ELSA AI Conversation', 'Practice Daily Lessons', and 'Earn a Certificate', were especially valued. However, technical limitations, content lacking depth of expertise and inadequate tracking features emerged as sources of frustration that could impede sustained engagement.