The Effectiveness of AI Tools in Enhancing Pinyin Listening Skills in Chinese Pronunciation Teaching for Non-Native Speakers: A Comparative Study of Traditional Dictation and AI Tools

Abstract

This study explores the integrated application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, ChatGPT and Quizizz, in teaching Chinese pronunciation to non-native speakers, focusing on their effectiveness in improving students' pinyin listening skills. The study targeted first-year students majoring in Chinese education at Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University (academic year 2024) in Thailand. By comparing traditional dictation with AI-assisted listening training, the study analyzed changes in students' listening accuracy, learning efficiency, listening sensitivity, and interest in learning.  

The results indicate that the combined use of AI tools significantly improved students' listening accuracy (from 0.561 to 0.793, p < 0.001), while also enhancing their interest in learning (100% of students reported a significant increase in learning enjoyment) and learning efficiency (75% of students reported a substantial improvement in their abilities). Additionally, listening sensitivity improved across the board, with 68.8% of students reporting significant progress and 31.2% reporting moderate improvement. This study further confirms the effectiveness of the two AI tools in teaching Chinese pronunciation to non-native speakers. It not only improved students’ pinyin listening comprehension skills but also enhanced their overall learning experience, providing valuable insights for the optimization and promotion of AI technology in the future design of Chinese language teaching for foreign learners.