Creating Awareness of Incorrect English Pronunciation in Thai Elementary School by using the Detect Me English Application

Abstract

This research examines the ability of the Detect Me English application to create awareness of incorrect pronunciations in Thai Elementary Students (identified through Natural Language Processing). The English correction software developed for this research uses an android system combined with the Detect Me English application to analyze the phonological sounds produced by the students. The researchers tested 60 students in total from grades 4-6. The main objective of this research was to test the Detect Me English application’s effectiveness in creating awareness of correct English phonetic pronunciations. Further objectives were to measure the improvement of the students after being first exposed to the application and being instructed on the correct pronunciation so as to evaluate the efficiency of the application becoming a teaching tool in Thai classrooms. The instruments used were the Detect Me English application as well as the 30 words taken from the English Standard Curriculum and inputted into the application; 10 grade 4 level words, 10 grade 5 level words and 10 grade 6 level words. The results showed that the sample groups were not aware of many of the English phonological rules. Upon further analysis of the data recorded the post-test reveled that students were able to obtain significantly higher results.