A Duolingo-based English Language Skills Assessment: Through the Eyes of Vocational Students

The utilization of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) enhances activities. As online modalities proliferate, Duolingo is becoming increasingly well-known but understudied as an English-learning assessment tool. This study explores the tool, specifically in context English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Indonesia. Three Electromedical Engineering students were selected participants, and semi-structured interviews conducted to gather data. Thematic Analysis was employed analyze collected findings revealed several positive impressions had when using skills (ELSA) including its engaging nature, facilitation autonomous assessment, provision motivation, improvement vocabulary mastery. However, participants also mentioned drawbacks, such Duolingo's inability provide specialized vocabulary, use fake images that hindered comprehension meaning real-life contexts, lack interactivity assessment. recommends ESP practitioners consider student-centered tools assessing proficiency, focusing on test's purpose, objectives, practicality, reliability, validity, authenticity, washback effects.