AI as an English Teacher

This post discusses about language translation. So the post itself is bi-lingual this time.
翻訳をテーマに記事を記そうとしたら、和英チャンポンになってしまいました。

In my previous post, I mentioned that Grammarly helps me a lot in improving my English. Today, I want to say that ChatGPT also does an excellent job after reviewing the revised introduction of my “Surfaces” column. While it may not be as useful for native writers and speakers, it has been helpful for me, a Japanese, in revising the style and/or tone of an essay. The following is a record of how I used AI technology in the revision process.

Grammarlyというアプリ（一部無料）が英文作成時にとても便利、と記したのが前回２月10日の投稿。その舌の根も乾かぬうちに紹介するのが、ChatGPTという、OpenAI社が2022年11月から提供している話題の無料Webサービスである。英語を母国語とするAIが、校正はもちろん文体についても対話形式で相談にのってくれる。筆者のコラム・Surfaces冒頭の英文は毎度Grammarlyから違う箇所を指摘される迷文だったので、早速ChatGPTに相談してみた。以下はそのやりとり。


Arx: Please check and rewrite my following essay（わたしの書いた文章を校正してください）. Here, I introduce scanned images from my dad’s slides mostly taken in the early 70’s. 1964 Oldsmobile was our only choice for means of family trip to as north as Fairbanks, AK or to as south as Oaxaca, Mexico: we never used airlines. Accordingly, I decided to call this series of posts as “Surfaces”.

AI: "I am introducing scanned images from my dad's slides, mostly taken in the early 70s. The 1964 Oldsmobile was our only choice for family trips, whether it be as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska, or as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico. We never used airlines, which is why I have decided to call this series of posts "Surfaces."

Arx: Thanks. Can you make it more poetic（もうちょっと詩情豊かな文体にならないか）?

AI: "I present to you a nostalgic glimpse into the past, captured through scanned images of my father's slides. Taken in the early 70s, these photographs transport us to a time when the 1964 Oldsmobile was our trusty companion on family journeys, taking us as far north as the wilds of Fairbanks, Alaska, and as far south as the vibrant streets of Oaxaca, Mexico. We never took to the skies, preferring the road as our means of exploration. Thus, I have named this collection of memories, "Surfaces"."

Arx: I see. Can you make it short, about half length（なるほど。半分くらいの長さにはなる）?

AI: "I bring you a trip down memory lane with scanned images of my dad's 70's slides. The 1964 Oldsmobile was our vehicle of choice for family adventures from Fairbanks to Oaxaca. We never flew, thus I named this series "Surfaces."

Arx: Fine. Then how do you rewrite it if I ask you to make it more scientific or academic（いい感じ。じゃあ科学的・学術的にといったら）?

AI: "I am presenting a visual historical analysis through a collection of scanned images of my father's slides, primarily taken in the early 1970s. The photographs depict the utilization of the 1964 Oldsmobile as the primary mode of transportation for family excursions, ranging from northern destinations such as Fairbanks, Alaska to southern locations such as Oaxaca, Mexico. As air travel was not utilized during these trips, the collection has been titled "Surfaces" to reflect the emphasis on ground-based travel and the examination of the various surfaces encountered during the excursions."

Arx: OK. Can you make it shorter, to about half（もうちょっと手短にしたら）?

AI: "I present a visual analysis of 1970s family travel through scanned images of my father's slides. The use of a 1964 Oldsmobile for trips from Fairbanks to Oaxaca is highlighted, and the collection is titled "Surfaces" as it focuses on ground-based travel and the surfaces encountered during the excursions."

Arx: Thanks a lot.

AI: You're welcome! I'm glad I could help. Let me know if you need any further assistance.
　
　
As you see, I have to learn more about Style and Tone Prompts. But, it’s amazing! From the following “Surfaces” post, the introduction will be more “poetic”.

こんな調子でいくらでも相手してくれる。AIに尋ねるStyleやToneなど依頼（Prompt）のボキャブラリーを増やせばもっと便利そう。というか、その依頼（Prompt）こそすべてな気がする。あ、それ自体を尋ねればいいのか？そのかわり、われわれが書き込む迷文さえもAIは糧にするので、未発表の学術論文を丸ごと貼り付けるなどは控えた方がいいらしい。もっとも、われわれの記す趣味の文章など問題ないだろう。また、何でも「知ったか」で尤もらしく答えるので、鵜呑みは禁物とのこと。試してはいないが、和訳も可能。日本語でも文体が替えられるなら、石頭による硬い文章も読みやすくなるかも。

という訳で次のSurfacesコラムから、冒頭の定型文はpoeticな表現に改訂される。ちなみにこのシン定型文はGrammarlyのチェックをクリアした。

ChatGPT homepage;
ChatGPTのアカウント作成方法など;
依頼（Prompt）の文例集;