Dong A University in Vietnam built ELSA Business into its first-year Pronunciation course, and average pronunciation scores rose 10 points within 12 weeks.
The partnership began in 2023 and has reached 11,747 first-year students across more than 288 classes. Students practised for an average of 29 minutes a day, against ELSA's benchmark of 15 minutes.
Dong A University is one of the leading private universities in Central Vietnam. It is known for its focus on practical education, international collaboration and student employability.
Dong A University and ELSA Business at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | Dong A University |
| Industry | Higher education |
| Location | Central Vietnam |
| Learners | 11,747 first-year students across more than 288 classes since 2023; more than 2,500 students in 2026 |
| Courses | First-year Pronunciation course; from 2026, English-major students and other English subjects |
| Product | ELSA Business |
| How progress was measured | Average ELSA pronunciation score, and teacher feedback on workload and assessment |
Why did Dong A University need better speaking practice?
The university needed to improve students' English communication at scale, while lecturers carried a heavy workload marking speaking assignments by hand.
Giving standardised pronunciation assessment to thousands of students was difficult. The university's goal was to give students the global communication skills they need for their careers.
How did Dong A University build ELSA into its English courses?
Dong A University built ELSA into its first-year Pronunciation course, where students' ELSA performance counts for 30% of the final course score.
Lecturers set 36 ELSA-integrated assignments in each class, alongside their own in-class speaking activities. The university also held yearly workshops for students and training sessions for teachers.
In 2026, more than 2,500 students took Pronunciation and other English courses with ELSA. The university also extended ELSA to 223 English-major students and to English subjects beyond pronunciation. The aim is continuous English learning across students' studies.
Did Dong A University's students actually use ELSA?
Yes. Students practised with ELSA for an average of 29 minutes a day, nearly double ELSA's daily benchmark of 15 minutes.
- Daily practice: 29 minutes on average, against a 15-minute benchmark.
- Assignments: 36 ELSA-integrated assignments in each Pronunciation class.
- Reach: 11,747 first-year students across more than 288 classes since 2023.
How much did students' pronunciation improve, and how was it measured?
Average pronunciation scores rose by 10 points, from 55 to 65, within a 12-week Pronunciation course.
Progress was measured with ELSA's pronunciation score. Lecturers also reported a lighter workload: 100% of teachers agreed that ELSA reduced the work of evaluating speaking assignments and gave more standardised pronunciation assessment.
| Measure | Start | End | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average pronunciation score | 55 | 65 | +10 points |
Source: Dong A University and ELSA programme review, 2023–2026.
What does Dong A University say about ELSA?
"ELSA has helped Dong A University improve the effectiveness of Pronunciation classes in particular and enhance students’ overall English speaking ability in general. In addition, the management and progress-tracking tools allow lecturers to monitor student performance more efficiently while reducing time and administrative workload."
Teacher, Dong A University
"The Pronunciation course with ELSA helped me practice the sounds and speaking skills taught by our lecturers more effectively. Besides improving my pronunciation, ELSA also provided many interesting and engaging learning contents related to my field of study, which motivated me to practice more consistently."
Student, Dong A University
Frequently asked questions
What English training did Dong A University use in Vietnam?
Dong A University uses ELSA Business, which gives students AI-powered speaking practice and individual feedback. ELSA is built into the first-year Pronunciation course, where students' ELSA performance counts for 30% of the final course score. Since 2023, the programme has reached 11,747 first-year students across more than 288 classes.
How long has Dong A University worked with ELSA?
Dong A University partnered with ELSA in 2023. The first rollout covered the first-year Pronunciation course. In 2026, the university extended ELSA to 223 English-major students and to English subjects beyond pronunciation, so students can keep practising throughout their studies.
How much did Dong A University's students practise with ELSA?
Students practised for an average of 29 minutes a day, nearly double ELSA's daily benchmark of 15 minutes. Each Pronunciation class also included 36 ELSA-integrated assignments, alongside the speaking activities lecturers ran in class. This practice has run across more than 288 classes since 2023.
How quickly did pronunciation scores rise at Dong A University?
Within a 12-week Pronunciation course, average pronunciation scores rose by 10 points, from 55 to 65. This result comes from Dong A University's own programme and was measured with ELSA's pronunciation score. The course combined ELSA practice with lecturers' in-class speaking activities, and students' ELSA performance counted for 30% of the course score.
Did ELSA change the workload for Dong A University's lecturers?
Yes, according to the lecturers. 100% of teachers agreed that ELSA reduced the work of evaluating speaking assignments and gave more standardised pronunciation assessment. One teacher also said the progress-tracking tools help lecturers monitor student performance with less administrative work.
