Speakers
ABSTRACT
While app usage is prevalent among Japanese university students, there is little data on which apps are being used, for what purposes, and why these apps were chosen. Our study is the first known to systematically categorize this information. We surveyed 616 Japanese university students, asking a) what apps they used for language learning, b) what features influenced them, c) how they felt about using apps for language learning, and d) what they thought about AI tools in general. We found that Google Translate still dominates the field (95% of participants used it), while ChatGPT (54.2%) and DeepL (41.9%) came in second- and third-most frequently used. The main features students looked for were speed, ease, and cost. In total, 90.6% of students approved of using apps for language learning, though 9.4% (n = 58) opposed it. The most common sentiments regarding AI were that a) it’s useful and b) students were cautiously optimistic about its future. These findings hold significant implications for attendees, who will gain a deeper understanding of students’ mindset and behavior patterns, the role of technology in language education, and obtain empirical evidence and insights to inform evidence-based language education practices and policies.
KEYWORDS
Artificial Intelligence, Language Learning Apps, MALL, CALL
| TITLE | An Analysis of App Usage and Sentiment Among Japanese University Students |
|---|---|
| RELEVANT SIG | Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) |
| FORMAT | Research-oriented Oral Face-to-face presentation (25 minutes, including Q&A) |
