An Experimental Study of ChatGPT-Assisted Improvement of Chinese College Students' English Reading Skills: A Case Study of Dear Life

This study conducted a 4-week comparative experiment at a university in China using English original novels, specifically Dear Life. The experiment revealed that the ChatGPT-assisted group, which utilized ChatGPT for reading assistance and analysis (interpretation of the book's story background, analyzing the narrative structure and language style, explanation of words, translation of sentences and paragraphs), demonstrated notable outcomes. Approximately 83% of the students in this class successfully completed the entire book within 14 hours, achieving a reading comprehension rate exceeding 86%. Their English book reviews received an average score of 76 points (out of 100 points), indicating an elevated level of engagement and interest in reading. Moreover, they exhibited a positive reception towards the ChatGPT assisted reading mode. In contrast, the paper book class, relying on conventional paper-based reading, exhibited differing results. Only 40.48% of these students managed to complete their readings within an average of 30 hours. Their reading comprehension rate stood at 63%, with English book review essays averaging 52 points. Remarkably, 59.52% of the students in paper book class abandoned the reading task due to inadequate vocabulary for comprehension and a lack of interest. The findings underscore the efficacy of ChatGPT for AI-assisted reading, which contributes to improved efficiency and comprehension among students engaging with English original novels. These results emphasize the potential for enhancing English language education in the Internet+ era through the integration of such technological tools.