Abstract

This study explored how ChatGPT can help students improve their English speech proficiency skills, especially in speaking. The main objectives were to investigate the improvement of the participants’ speech proficiency after using ChatGPT treatment and how they perceive the implementation of ChatGPT in improving speech proficiency. A mixed-methods approach was adopted in this study and participants were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. The study focused on the benefits and limitations of using AI tools in education. A gap was found in previous research, as many studies discussed ChatGPT’s features, but few focused on how students feel about using it in real classrooms. The data were collected through a survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Results showed that many students found ChatGPT to be a beneficial process in the development of students’ speech, as an easy-to-use and helpful tool for learning English. The study revealed that ChatGPT training significantly improved students’ speech performance (t = 12.538, p < .05), enhancing their content, fluency, language and style through AI-assisted feedback that reduced anxiety and promoted autonomous learning. In addition, results show that students highly valued ChatGPT’s timely and effective feedback on speech tasks, earning an overall mean of 4.39, recognizing it as a reliable support tool that enhances revisions, reduces anxiety, saves time, and promotes motivation. This implies that teachers can integrate ChatGPT into speaking activities to provide quick feedback and build students’ confidence, making learning more engaging.

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