Through questionnaire surveys and interviews, we aim to understand the current application status of ChatGPT in foreign language education, in order to enable foreign language students and teachers to have a correct understanding of ChatGPT, scientifically and effectively utilize it, and empower foreign language education. The results showed that the use of ChatGPT to empower foreign language learning among foreign language majors in ordinary universities has not yet become widespread. Most students are willing to try it as an auxiliary tool for foreign language learning to improve the effectiveness of foreign language learning; ChatGPT, as an auxiliary teaching tool, will not affect the classroom subjectivity of foreign language teachers; The main potential problem that ChatGPT brings to foreign language education is that it weakens real-life communication and interaction between people, as well as hinders the development of critical thinking abilities. Foreign language teachers and students should reduce the negative impact of ChatGPT, fully leverage its intelligent role, and promote the transformation of foreign language education in the era of smart education