Chat GPT Use for Teachers: Is it an enemy or a friend?  

    Since its release, the AI model ChatGPT has been seen like an enemy by some English teachers due to its use for cheating in the exams, especially for writing exams. These days, due to earthquake in Turkey, the exams have been given online and I as a teacher experienced cheating issues too. Since we gave the writing exam online, students were able to use ChatGPT for writing and Turnitin like Plagiarism websites haven't been well adjusted to detect those issues yet. However, is ChatGPT really an enemy for us? The answer for me is no, because, I as a teacher benefit from ChatGPT in different ways, which I will explain below. 

1. Writing 

As an English teacher, for writing, I use ChatGPT to write example essays. That is, when my students write essays, they write them and I give them feedback. However, I think that this is not always enough. To give a whole class feedback, I give instructions to ChatGPT and make it write an example essay for me, which then I review and rewrite according to my lesson. 
Let's say that the topic is "Why do people own pets?". I give ChatGPT the following instructions: Please write me an essay with two body paragraphs, introduction and conclusion about "Why do people own pets?" and include the following vocabulary: x, y , z (depending on the target vocabulary). Of course, I don't just copy and paste but do some edits according to the essay rules that I taught in class to ensure that it becomes a good sample for my students. This way, I can become more efficient.
As well as essays, while teaching linkers, or some other complex structures in writing, I ask ChatGPT to write me example sentences with those structures. As a humanbeing, I sometimes got stuck and cannot write sentences and examples, at that moment, ChatGPT comes for help.

2. Reading

    For reading, ChatGPT is a wonderful tool. Usually, as a teacher, we use some course books for reading and we follow the weekly content. However, sometimes, especially in repeat classes, students might ask for different reading texts. At those cases, I used to try to find texts online and worry too much about Copyright issues. As you know, if we make use of a book, we cannot photocopy it simply and we cannot expect our students to buy new books all the time. Therefore, ChatGPT is a genuine resource for this. Basically, you just ask for a text and questions. Here is an example I got from ChatGPT by the following instructions.
    

    What I wrote to ChatGPT: Prepare me a reading text about technology and 5 multiple questions for B1 level.

    

    What ChatGPT gave me:
    

    The advancements in technology have changed our lives in ways we never thought possible. From communication to entertainment, technology has made everything more accessible and convenient. However, with these advancements come challenges, including cybersecurity, privacy concerns, and addiction.
One of the most significant impacts of technology has been on communication. With the advent of smartphones and social media, we can now communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world, in real-time. This has led to a more connected world, but it has also led to concerns about the impact of technology on our social lives.
Another area where technology has had a significant impact is in the entertainment industry. The rise of streaming services has completely changed the way we consume media. We no longer have to wait for a specific time to watch our favorite shows or movies; we can access them on demand whenever we want.
However, with these technological advancements come challenges. One of the biggest challenges is cybersecurity. As more and more of our lives move online, we are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. It is essential to take steps to protect our personal information and to stay informed about the latest threats.
Another challenge is privacy concerns. Companies are collecting vast amounts of data about us, which can be used for targeted advertising or sold to third-party companies. It is essential to be aware of our privacy rights and to take steps to protect our personal information.
Finally, there is the issue of addiction. Technology has become so ubiquitous in our lives that it can be challenging to disconnect. It is essential to set boundaries and take breaks from technology to avoid becoming addicted.

    Questions:
    1.What has been one of the most significant impacts of technology on communication?
a) It has led to a more connected world
b) It has led to a more isolated world
c) It has led to a more confusing world
    2.How has the entertainment industry changed with the rise of technology?
a) It has become more challenging to access media
b) It has become easier to access media
c) It has become more expensive to access media
    3.What is one of the biggest challenges of technological advancements?
a) Cybersecurity
b) Privacy benefits
c) Addiction
    4.What is one way to protect personal information online?
a) Sharing personal information with anyone
b) Ignoring privacy concerns
c) Taking steps to protect personal information
    5.Why is it essential to take breaks from technology?
a) To avoid addiction
b) To become more addicted
c) To protect personal information
    

    As you can see, it can give you a genuine text with genuine questions. The only task after this is to check the text for your students' level and adjust the questions according to your teaching aims. Imagine trying to create this kind of a text from scratch. It would take hours to do that. Now, with one click, you have a text in the topic and level that you want and you can use it.
    Additionally, you can also create a story to make your lessons even more fun. The only important thing is that you ask ChatGPT the right questions.

3. Grammar

    For grammar, I sometimes try to write my own sentences to test the specific points that I taught in the class. Usually, the activities in the coursebook are good, however, sometimes we need extra activities to ensure that our students really grasped the grammar point. Especially for mechanical exercises, I benefit from ChatGPT. Here is an example for you.
    

    What I wrote to ChatGPT: Can you create me a fill-in-the blank Present Simple tense activity to test the difference between I, you, we, they and he, she, it?
    

    What ChatGPT gave me:

1.My sister __________ (enjoy) playing basketball. (she)
2.We __________ (like) to watch movies on the weekend. (you and I)
3.My friends and I __________ (go) to the gym after work. (we)
4.He __________ (play) guitar in his free time. (he)
5.You __________ (study) English every day. (you)
6.They __________ (work) in the marketing department. (they)
7.My cat __________ (sleep) a lot during the day. (it)
8.I __________ (listen) to music while I work. (I)
9.We __________ (eat) dinner at home every evening. (you and I)
10.My mom __________ (cook) dinner for us every night. (she)

Answer Key:
enjoys - like - go -plays -study -work - sleeps- listen -eat -cooks

    As you can see, it even provides the answer key for you. If I wanted to prepare such an exercise, I would have to think about sentences, names or pronouns which would take lots of time. Now with ChatGPT, it is easier. Again, you can just review the exercise and edit if need be. 
    Another way that you can use it for is that if you don't have a ready made reading material at the presentation stage in your grammar lesson, you can also demand it from ChatGPT. 
    

    What I asked to ChatGPT: Can you write me a text about film-making which includes present tense and past tense passives?
    

    What ChatGPT gave me:

    Film-making is a collaborative process that involves many different people working together to create a final product. At the beginning of a film project, a script is written by a screenwriter. The script is then reviewed and revised by the director and producer. Once the script is finalized, actors are cast for the roles.
During the production phase, the film crew works together to bring the script to life. The camera is operated by the cinematographer, who works with the director of photography to achieve the desired visual style. Lighting is set up by the gaffer and grip team to create the right atmosphere for each scene.
In post-production, the editing process begins. The footage is sorted and organized by the assistant editor. The editor then assembles the footage, selects the best takes, and creates a rough cut. The rough cut is reviewed by the director and producer, and revisions are made as needed. Once the final cut is approved, the sound design team works to create the sound effects, music, and dialogue mix. The film is then color corrected and graded by a colorist to create the final look.
In the past, film was developed using chemicals in a darkroom. The film negative was processed and printed onto a positive print, which was then edited and assembled by hand. Today, however, most film-making is done digitally, with footage shot on digital cameras and edited on computers. The final product can be distributed through various platforms, including movie theaters, streaming services, and television.
Overall, film-making is a complex and creative process that requires a lot of hard work and collaboration. Whether it's a big-budget Hollywood production or a small independent film, each project is a unique journey from script to screen.
    

    As seen above, it is a very well written text which includes passive structures that I asked for. I can basically use this at the noticing stage where I can highlight the parts with passives or ask students comprehension questions about those parts to draw their attention to the passives. 
    In short, for Grammar too, ChatGPT seems to be a friend. 

4. Vocabulary

    As you can guess, for vocabulary too, it is possible to create some activities through ChatGPT. I usually use it for mechanical exercises to test students' understanding of the words in English. Mostly, I prepare such fill-in-the-blanks activities after each unit and towards the exam day to revise vocabulary with my students. Here is an example from me, to be honest, from ChatGPT. 

    

    What I asked to ChatGPT: Can you prepare me a fill-in-the-blank activity with the following words: demand, advertise, ambition, annoy, privacy?

    What ChatGPT gave me:
    
1. The company is planning to __________ its new product on social media.
2.His __________ to become a doctor led him to study hard and get good grades.
3.I need some __________. Can you please leave me alone for a while?
4.It's important to respect people's __________ and not share their personal information without permission.
5.The noise from the construction site next door is starting to __________ me.
6.The __________ for eco-friendly products is increasing as more people become concerned about the environment.

Answer Key: advertise - ambition - privacy - privacy - annoy - demand

    As you can notice, it used privacy twice, which would not be usual for a vocabulary exercise. So, you can basically delete one of the sentences. Also, you need to give the words that students should use and the instructions

    So, you see it also works for vocabulary. You can even generate a text with these words to use it for guessing meaning from context type of activities. Let's try and see what it gives us. 

    

    What I asked to ChatGPT: Can you prepare me a text with the following words: privacy, ambition, advertise, demand, annoy?

    What ChatGPT gave me: 

    In today's world, privacy is becoming increasingly important. People are demanding more control over their personal information, and companies must respect their customers' privacy if they want to succeed. However, at the same time, companies need to advertise their products to stay in business. This creates a delicate balance between the two. An ambitious entrepreneur must find creative ways to reach potential customers without annoying them or invading their privacy. By understanding the demands of consumers and respecting their privacy, companies can build trust and create long-lasting relationships with their customers. This not only benefits the customers but also the company itself in the long run. Therefore, a successful business must always keep its customers' privacy and in mind while advertising their products and pursuing their ambitious goals.
 
    Above text includes all the target vocabulary and is ready to be used by an English teacher to teach the vocabulary. Only point here is that it gave me "ambitious" instead of "ambition" which we can edit if we want to teach the noun form first. Other than that, it is a nicely written text to be used and modified according to our teaching aims.
 

    Concluding Remarks on ChatGPT Use for Teachers

    What is left was listening, for which ChatGPT doesn't have an asset, however, you can generate a text and read it by yourself if you need to. There are also recent developments in text-to-speech type of models which can be further researched and used for listening.

    To sum up, I believe that ChatGPT can be like our colleagues for life. I believe that as teachers, there are a lot we can use it for. The only issue is that we should know how to ask for it and edit it. It really makes it easier to prepare exercises and saves tons of time for us. For cheating issues, it is a topic for another blog. 

    

    If you have other ways to use ChatGPT, please share with me. I can try to use it in that way as well.