Pemanfaatan ChatGPT Sebagai Mitra Percakapan Virtual Dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Sprechen Mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa Jerman

Abstract

Speaking (Sprechen) is one of the most challenging productive skills in learning German. The limited availability of native-speaking conversation partners and the fear of making mistakes (Sprachhemmung) are the main factors behind students' low oral competence. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of ChatGPT as a virtual conversation partner in improving the Sprechen skills of German Language Education students. The study employed a quasi-experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 28 third-semester students of the German Language Education Study Program. The instrument was a formal speaking test (based on the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 format) assessed by two raters using a holistic scoring rubric. The data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. The results showed a significant improvement in students' Sprechen scores after the ChatGPT intervention, with the mean score increasing from 66.27 in the pretest to 74.54 in the posttest (t = 6.226; p < 0.001). It is concluded that using ChatGPT as a virtual conversation partner is significantly effective in improving students' Sprechen skills, particularly in fluency (Flüssigkeit) and speaking confidence.