2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Prevent or Integrate: Machine Translation Usage in the Language Classroom
Project/Area Number |
23K12258
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Research Institution | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University |
Principal Investigator |
MACK Lindsay 立命館アジア太平洋大学, 言語教育センター, 准教授 (70751519)
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Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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Keywords | Machine Translation / L2 Writing / Writing Strategies / CALL / AI in higher education |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In Spring 2023 I conducted a thorough literature review of machine translation. Pilot surveys were given to teachers and students on machine translation and generative AI use in the classroom and their opinions of AI. I also traveled to Washington, D.C., to interview six Writing Center Directors and two Language teachers about their opinions of AI and how they adapt to its prevalent use in writing. In Fall 2023 I interviewed 12 teachers using AI and MT in the classroom and how they integrate it and began longitudinal study interviews (2-3 years) with 6 students. I started in-depth literature view about how universities are adapting to AI and how it affects academic integrity. Finally, I traveled to Washington DC again for another conference connected to AI.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
It is proceeding as planned, but as I have conducted more research, I started to change some of my methods and research questions. For example, it was very hard to find university teachers who used the “integrate and educate” approach towards machine translation. I wanted to observe their classes in Spring 2023, but I have only just found two teachers willing to be observed, and I will observe classes starting in June 2024. Also, I expanded my research to include AI and writing centers. I was able to interview many writing center directors about how they are responding to AI. I also added the research question: how are universities adapting to AI via academic codes of conduct? This is a new question that I started an analysis of, and I hope to submit it for publication soon.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For Spring 2024, I plan to visit Ritsumeikan University to observe classes using Machine Translation, interview students and teachers about machine translation usage, and continue longitudinal interviews. I plan to begin a Machine Translation pilot study/action research in my Advanced English class. I will also continue interviews with teachers who integrate machine translation. Finally, I plan to submit a paper on how schools adapt to generative AI and what policies they are implementing. For Fall 2024 I will continue longitudinal interviews, conduct Machine Translation study/action research in my Advanced English class and observe teachers using Machine Translation at APU. In March, I plan to travel to TESOL Conference in Long Beach California.
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Causes of Carryover |
My original idea for spending the research funds was I would travel to other universities to investigate and observe classes integrating MT but I could not find universities. The carried-over amount from FY 2023 was 447, 963 and will be used to travel to other universities. Also, one point that cost more than expected was travel abroad and transcriptions, since the yen is weak now. I also realized I needed to invest in some of these AI systems to understand how students are using them, such as Quillbot and Grammarly, which accounted for some of the funds being used for that.
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Research Products
(1 results)