An Investigation of the Effects of Using ChatGPT on Vocabulary Acquisition in Chinese-as a Foreign Language High School Classes in the USA

Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its accompanying potentially powerful assistance in language learning, has been explored rapidly in the field of Chinese-as-a-Foreign-Language (CFL). Nevertheless, little research has been done regarding the effect of using AI on vocabulary acquisition in the learning of Chinese as a foreign language for American CFL high school students. Specifically, almost no research has been done on the impact of integrating ChatGPT AI chatbot in the learning of Chinese vocabulary in the American CFL classrooms. This study proposes to investigate the effect of ChatGPT AI chatbot as a media to assist Chinese vocabulary learning for American high school students in the CFL classroom setting. The results should provide guidance for CFL teachers in addressing AI-related factors that could enhance CFL high school students’ performance in their Chinese vocabulary acquisition, and how the ChatGPT AI chatbot could transform CFL teachers’ teaching practices.