Enhancing University Students’ Oral English Skills through Clova Note: An Action Research

Abstract

This action research investigated the impact of Clova Note, Naver’s speech recognition app, on supporting speaking practices among Korean university students in general English courses. Over one semester, the study involved 60 beginner and intermediate students. Students in this study completed read-aloud tasks using Clova Note. Data sources—surveys, journals, interviews, and peer instructor evaluations—were analyzed through a mixed-methods approach. Findings showed that repeated practice with Clova Note promoted autonomy, improved pronunciation awareness, and boosted speaking confidence, especially among beginners. Qualitative data showed students developed strategies, such as reducing reliance on translation tools and self-correcting based on transcript mismatches. Peer instructor evaluations showed significant fluency gains in intermediate students, while surveys indicated increased motivation and confidence in beginners. These results suggest speech recognition can effectively support independent speaking practice in EFL contexts, especially for less proficient learners in large classes.