17–19 May 2024
Meijo University Nagoya Dome Campus
Asia/Tokyo timezone

Leveraging ChatGPT for English Language Teaching: Insights from Korean EFL Instructors

18 May 2024, 13:00
1h 20m
Learning Commons (1st Floor)

Learning Commons (1st Floor)

Poster AI for Teaching Posters Session

Speaker

Jongbong Lee (Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)

Description

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings has opened new avenues for language teaching and learning. Previous studies (e.g., Pack & Maloney, 2023; Pfau et al., 2023) have presented a potential for AI in language teaching. Building on this foundation, this study explores the utilization of ChatGPT, a sophisticated AI language model, in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction in South Korea. It focuses on how EFL instructors can effectively use this tool to enhance their teaching.

Five Korean EFL instructors were selected to investigate how ChatGPT can be utilized in English teaching. An online workshop was conducted to provide insights and guidelines for effectively integrating ChatGPT as a teaching assistant in English language classrooms. Following the workshop, the participants completed a questionnaire about their experiences and perspectives on using ChatGPT in their teaching practices. They were then invited for in-depth interviews to gather qualitative insights into this issue. These interviews were analyzed to uncover the instructors' initial impressions, their strategies for integrating ChatGPT into their teaching methods, the challenges they faced, and the perceived benefits for their students.

The findings indicated that while the instructors recognized ChatGPT's potential as a valuable teaching aid, its effective use necessitated active engagement with the tool. They emphasized the importance of understanding ChatGPT's capabilities and limitations to tailor its use for language teaching. The instructors also noted the need for a strategic approach in integrating ChatGPT into the curriculum, highlighting its role in complementing traditional teaching methods rather than replacing them. The study concludes that ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for EFL instruction when used thoughtfully and interactively by teachers. It offers recommendations for EFL instructors on effectively incorporating ChatGPT into their teaching, including continuous experimentation and adaptation based on student needs and learning objectives.

Keywords ChatGPT, teaching tool, teacher education

Primary authors

Dr Myeongeun Son (Gangneung-Wonju National University) Jongbong Lee (Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.