Online Machine Translation Use by International University Students: A Study of Student Beliefs and Behaviors

This study examined the use, ethicality judgments, and perceived utility and accuracy of Online Machine Translators such as Google Translate by international students studying at a major university in the southeastern United States. These students were a part of a support program dedicated to international students enrolled in full content courses at the university with lower English language, university entrance exam or other factors that would have made them a high-risk group at the university without additional support. Two main instruments of study were used to examine Online Machine Translator use by students. The instruments used were an online survey and online interviews conducted through online forms due to limited internet connectivity of students studying from abroad during the COVID-19 epidemic. Results of this study showed that international students predominantly use online machine translators to translate single words as well as learn new vocabulary within English composition courses. The factors that have the strongest influence upon OMT use are perceived utility of OMT, first language and age. Students judge their use of online machine translators to be ethical based upon the manner of usage and do not view them inherently as a form of misconduct. It is suggested that future studies examine why OMT accuracy does not influence OMT use, ways to include these tools in effective pedagogy, and increase support structures for international students that feel that they are at a linguistic disadvantage.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Presnell, Nathan Reed

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Cho, Hyesun

• English as a second language
• Translation studies
• Educational technology
• EFL
• ESL
• Google Translate
• International Students
• Online translator
• Translation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:17716

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/39197