Investigating the role of AI (Chat GPT) in evaluating writing skills for IELTS exam preparation in english language teaching

Abstract

Considering the rapidly changing world, with AI applications making a breakthrough and ChatGPT becoming popular in various fields and jobs, we need to be increasingly aware of whether it has the potential to become a viable tool for language teaching. With that in mind, the present study tries to assess the potential of AI in teaching and evaluating English. Specifically, this study aims to fill the gap in the literature by examining the efficiency and reliability of ChatGPT in evaluating the writing skills of learners in an IELTS course to demonstrate whether it can be an effective tool for teachers. To find consistency and alignment between ChatGPT's evaluations and those provided by a human expert, ten writing essays are first evaluated by the system. ChatGPT's feedback and grades, which are based on predetermined criteria, are then compared to those of an experienced IELTS teacher. Using a qualitative methodology, the study employed a detailed interviewing process to gather the expert teacher’s opinions on ChatGPT's effectiveness as an assessment tool and its implications for teaching English. The results indicate that the grades given by both the teacher and ChatGPT were greatly similar to any other measures, and teachers’ opinions conveyed their experience with the efficiency and effectiveness of ChatGPT as an evaluation tool in English language teaching. The study explores the potential of AI and human teachers in improving writing skills, highlighting the similarities between ChatGPT and human teacher assessment. It suggests that AI can complement or replace human assessment in specific contexts, enhancing writing instruction and evaluation. Hence, the ChatGPT, as an AI, can effectively serve as an educational tool, providing constructive feedback to the learners of the IELTS course, thereby enhancing their writing skills.