Pronunciation Practice with Google Translate TTS and ASR Functions

This article examines the impact of the use of Google Translate's (GT) text-to-speech and automatic speech recognition functions on the practice of pronunciation, intonation, and oral production at the beginner's level. Utilizing a self-study questionnaire, the acquisition of pronunciation, intonation, and oral production was evaluated, and students were asked about the effectiveness of this tool for the independent learning of Spanish as a foreign language. Since there are not many investigations on this topic, the results of this study are of significance and indicate that the self-directed use of GT through carefully designed learning activities for practicing a specific set of second language pronunciation features at a particular language level can aid independent practice, thus increasing students’ phonetic and phonological awareness, helping perception, aiding memorization, and improving language confidence.