EXPLORING STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON USING OXFORD ONLINE DICTIONARY TO PROMOTE STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION

Pronunciation and speaking are two continuous skills in language learning. These skills are interconnected in nature, given that the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and correctly is fundamental for effective communication. In English language learning, some students still lack clarity in pronouncing English words correctly. This finding suggests that some of them frequently and occasionally utilise English dictionaries as a reference tool for acquiring pronunciation skills. English dictionaries such as the Oxford dictionary are useful for both word definitions and pronunciation guidance. This study aims to determine the popularity of the Oxford online dictionary among students and their perceptions of using the Oxford online dictionary to improve their speaking skills. This study uses a qualitative method that focuses on descriptive qualitative analysis. The data used in this study was collected by using a questionnaire. The population data used in this study consisted of 27 students from the English Education Study Programme. The findings of this study demonstrate that the Oxford online dictionary is a widely recognised and utilised reference source. In terms of perception, the students expressed the opinion that the Oxford online dictionary plays a useful role in terms of usefulness, reliability, and improving students' speaking skills in English language learning, especially pronunciation. In conclusion, the Oxford Online Dictionary is a recommended reference for English language learning, with particular relevance to the development of pronunciation and speaking skills.