Getting Started

What is ELSA?

ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) is an AI-powered platform that helps you improve your English speaking skills. ELSA's technology was developed using voice data from people speaking English with various accents, which allows it to recognize and help non-native English speakers improve their pronunciation, fluency, intonation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Using ELSA Speech Analyzer

How do I use Speech Analyzer?

1. Prepare what you want to say or practice

2. Open ELSA Speech Analyzer in your browser

3. Turn on the recording

4. Speak naturally

5. Review your feedback and take notes

6. Practice multiple times to see improvement

Tips for best results:

• Use ELSA in a quiet environment

• Ensure you have a stable internet connection

• Wear headphones with a microphone if recording in meetings

Can I use Speech Analyzer in online meetings?

Yes! You can use Speech Analyzer during Zoom, Google Meet, or other online meetings. Simply keep Speech Analyzer open in your browser, turn on recording at the start of your meeting, and review the results afterward.

Will other people hear or see that I'm using ELSA?

No. ELSA Speech Analyzer doesn't interact with your video conferencing software, so other participants won't know you're using it.

Does Speech Analyzer record other people's voices?

Speech Analyzer doesn't remove other voices from the audio recording to preserve full context. However, other voices are filtered out in the transcript so only your speech is processed and evaluated.

Can I use Speech Analyzer on my phone?

Yes, you can record on your phone browser, but for the best experience viewing detailed feedback, please use a desktop computer.

Which browsers and operating systems work with Speech Analyzer?

• Operating Systems: Windows 7 or later, MacOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later

• Browsers: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox

Understanding Your Scores

Speech Analysis in ELSA School

ELSA School uses two types of Speech Analysis technologies depending on the activity: Scripted Speech Analysis and Unscripted Speech Analysis. These systems are used consistently across Study Sets, Read Aloud, AI Roleplay, and Speech Analyzer.

What scores does ELSA provide?

ELSA evaluates your English speaking across five areas:

1. Pronunciation (most important): How accurately you pronounce English sounds

2. Intonation: How you vary your pitch and emphasize words

3. Fluency: How smoothly and naturally you speak

4. Grammar: How correctly you use English grammar rules

5. Vocabulary: The variety and appropriateness of words you use

What is my ELSA Score (EPS)?

Your ELSA Proficiency Score (EPS) is an overall score from 0-100 that combines all five metrics. This score shows your current English speaking level.

How are my scores calculated?

The calculation depends on what type of activity you're doing:

For scripted speech (Study Set, Read Aloud):

• Pronunciation: 70%

• Intonation: 20%

• Fluency: 10%

• Grammar and Vocabulary: Not evaluated (since you're reading a fixed text)

For unscripted speech (AI Roleplays, Speech Analyzer):

• Each of the five metrics counts equally: 20% each

What do my score levels mean?

Your scores correspond to these English proficiency levels:

Can ELSA predict my IELTS or TOEFL score?

Yes! Based on your performance, ELSA can predict your speaking score for IELTS, TOEFL, CEFR, and PTE. The longer you speak, the more accurate the prediction will be.

Does ELSA replace taking CEFR/EIKEN/IELTS/TOEFL?

No. ELSA helps you practice and estimate your level, but it's not a substitute for official tests.

Why don't I see grammar or vocabulary scores?

Grammar and vocabulary scores require longer recordings to be accurate:

• Grammar: Requires at least 50 words

• Vocabulary: Requires at least 75 words

If your recording is too short, ELSA can still give you an overall score based on pronunciation, intonation, and fluency.

Privacy and Data

Is my data secure?

Yes. ELSA takes your privacy seriously:

• All speech processing happens on ELSA's secure servers

• We have servers in Europe to comply with GDPR for European users

• We do not sell your personal information to anyone

• We cannot identify any of our users based on their voice. We also anonymized all of our voice data.

What happens to my recordings?

Your audio and text data are:

• Stored so you can review past recordings

• Used to provide feedback on your performance

• Occasionally used (with anonymization) to improve ELSA's AI models, but the frequency is low (once in a few years).

Can I delete my data?

Yes. You can:

• Delete individual recordings in the Speech Analyzer app

• Request deletion of your entire ELSA account and all associated data

Who can access my data?

• You can view your own recordings and transcripts

• B2B Administrators (if you're using ELSA through your school or company) can view student/employee data for management purposes

• ELSA's AI team may access anonymized data for system improvement

Does ELSA use OpenAI or ChatGPT for scoring?

No. ELSA uses its own proprietary AI models for:

• Speech recognition (transcription)

• Pronunciation scoring

• All five metric evaluations

Some features may use external AI (like ChatGPT) for generating conversation topics, but only TEXT is sent, never your audio.

Understanding Your Feedback

What do the color codes mean?

In your transcript, you'll see words highlighted in different colors:

• Green/Correct: You pronounced this well

• Yellow/Warning: You can improve this

• Red/Error: This needs more practice

Why weren't all my grammar mistakes caught?

ELSA only corrects grammar errors when it's at least 80% confident the correction is right. This prevents suggesting irrelevant changes in cases where the grammar could be interpreted different ways.

What is "nativeness score"?

The nativeness score (0–100) measures how close your pronunciation is to native English speakers. A higher score indicates more natural-sounding pronunciation. Scores may vary across attempts, and the purpose of the score is to help learners track progress and understand areas for improvement, not to achieve a perfect score every time. Therefore, a score of 100% is not expected all the time.

Tips for Success

How can I get the most out of ELSA?

1. Use ELSA regularly: Consistency is key to improvement

2. Practice in a quiet place: Background noise can affect your scores

3. Review your feedback carefully: Look at specific mistakes and practice them

4. Speak at a natural pace: Don't rush or speak too slowly

5. Speak longer - Aim for 1-2 minute recordings for accuracy

6. Track your progress: Watch how your scores improve over time

How often should I practice?

For best results, try to use ELSA every day, even if just for 10-15 minutes. Regular practice helps you:

• Build speaking confidence

• Develop natural speech patterns

• See steady improvement in your scores

Why do my scores vary?

Normal! Scores can change based on:

• Recording length (longer = more accurate)

• Topics you discuss (familiar topics may score higher)

• Background noise

• Your actual improvement over time

What if my scores seem low?

Don't worry! ELSA is designed to help you improve:

• Everyone starts at different levels

• Improvement takes time and practice

• Focus on the specific feedback, not just the overall score

• Celebrate small improvements in each metric

Technical Questions

Why isn't ELSA working properly?

Common solutions:

• Check your internet connection

• Make sure your browser is up to date

• Allow microphone permissions in your browser

• Try using a different browser (Chrome is recommended)

• Ensure you're in a quiet environment

Can I use ELSA offline?

No, ELSA requires an internet connection because all speech processing happens on ELSA's servers to provide accurate, real-time feedback.

What audio quality do I need?

For best results:

• Use a good quality microphone (headset microphones work well)

• Minimize background noise

• Speak at a normal volume and pace