Insights Into the Appropriate Use of Machine Translation in Foreign Language Learning

抄録

Online machine translation (MT) is widely used by learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Previous research suggests that MT can be effectively incorporated into foreign language (FL) learning, and that it enhances learners’ language awareness and autonomy. To examine the relationship between MT use and its impact on learners’ FL acquisition, this study explores the appropriate use of MT and reports on a questionnaire survey of 245 Japanese EFL learners. The study investigates how learners’ use of MT might be related to (1) their awareness in English writing and (2) their perceptions of the use of MT in English learning. The results showed that the differences in types of awareness tended to be related to the form of MT use, suggesting that interactive engagement in producing English sentences using MT may lead to awareness that promotes learners’ FL acquisition and autonomous learning. The form of MT use was also found to be related to learners’ perceptions of MT use, especially their trust in MT for language learning. Based on the results, the potential for MT in supporting FL learning is discussed.