Unleashing the potential: how ChatGPT improves gisting skills in student interpreters

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model, in enhancing the gisting skills of student interpreters. A total of 50 student interpreters were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). The experimental group received gist reasoning training with ChatGPT, while the control group underwent traditional training methods. Over the four-month study period, the gisting skills of both groups were assessed and compared using pre- and post-tests. Additionally, students in the experimental group were interviewed regularly to gather their feedback on using ChatGPT. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the speed and accuracy of gisting in the experimental group compared to the control group. Qualitative analysis revealed that ChatGPT provided guidance and error correction for students, although some limitations were noted. This study contributes to the optimisation of interpreter training curricula and offers insights into the effective integration of AI tools like ChatGPT. It provides guidance for interpreter training organisations to develop strategies that leverage AI to enhance students’ skills.