About
36
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Introduction
I am an associate professor at Himeji Dokkyo University, Japan with a Doctor of Education from Indiana University. My research interests focus on computer-assisted language learning, specifically, technology-mediated informal language learning and the use of artificial intelligence in language education.
Current institution
Publications
Publications (36)
While the use of intelligent personal assistants (IPAs) has exploded in recent years, little is known about their use to promote English as a foreign language (EFL) development. Thus, this study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the in-class use of the IPA, Alexa, among second language (L2) English students to support improvements i...
Intelligent personal assistants, otherwise known as virtual assistants, are artificial intelligence-powered conversational agents that utilize machine learning to understand and appropriately respond to user requests. In recent years, research interest on the use of this emerging technology for foreign language learning has increased. Several studi...
While primary studies on technology-mediated informal foreign language (FL) learning are increasingly popular, research synthesis on self-directed FL learning in incidental, out-of-class contexts are scarce. Therefore, this article seeks to address this gap in the literature through a qualitative research synthesis (QRS) on language learning in the...
The use of automated writing evaluation (AWE) in second language (L2) writing contexts has increased dramatically, as evidenced by the large body of research published on the topic over the past decade. Considering this, several systematic reviews on AWE have been published. Nevertheless, none of these review studies has exclusively focused on the...
Purpose:
This study explores the use of ChatGPT for self-directed foreign language (FL) learning in out-of-class settings. It examines how learners use the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for self-directed FL learning and analyzes language learners' perceptions of its use. The study also investigates if the participants' views of ChatGPT diffe...
Over the past decade, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning and teaching has become increasingly widespread. Empirical research on AI technologies in this context has predominantly focused on how these digital tools can enhance the language learning process by improving efficiency, enhancing personalization, and promoting int...
Focusing on the global trend of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning, this survey-based study explored the practices and perceptions of Japanese English as a foreign language students (EFL) toward ChatGPT for second language (L2) learning. A mixed-method research design was utilized to achieve the study’s aims, with data being collecte...
Video streaming is a common social practice in modern society, especially among today's youth. Many people are also using these services as a resource for informal learning. However, few studies have examined the use of video streaming for self-directed foreign language (FL) learning beyond the classroom. The present study addresses this research g...
Some people believe that immersive virtual reality (VR) and, by extension, the metaverse, will become integral parts of daily life. There have also been suggestions that the metaverse could become a virtual world where language learners have alternate identities as second language (L2) speakers. Considering the potential implications of immersive V...
There is a rich body of literature that details the effects of automated writing evaluation (AWE) on second language (L2) students. However, these studies mostly focus on the impact that automated feedback has on writing performance, i.e.that is, there is a dearth of research on its influence on affective factors. Hence, this study was conducted to...
In this conceptual article, the author introduces decolonization as an alternative to social justice frameworks. As stakeholders in second language (L2) teaching, the author stresses decolonization as a means for L2 researchers to work against colonial practices in educational research, which negatively impact historically disenfranchised communiti...
Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has grown to become one of the most trafficked online platforms in the world. Accordingly, second language (L2) research interest on the topic has also increased, with studies investigating its use in formal and informal settings. Given this, the goal of this conceptual paper is to identify patterns within L2 re...
Studies in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) tend to focus on L2 English, giving relatively less attention to other foreign languages (see S.-M. Lee, 2019; Shadiev et al., 2017). Moreover, few studies have examined the use of the popular online forum Reddit to promote language learning. To address these gaps in the research, this study exa...
As teachers and students have abruptly shifted from traditional classroombased learning to online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to evaluate the attitudes of learners towards remote foreign language learning, particularly among Japanese students who often have little to no experience with the learning method. Therefore, the p...
While video streaming services have had a profound impact on how people view television programs and movies, very little is known about their use to promote second language (L2) development. To address this gap in L2 research, this paper details the results of an exploratory study that examined the combination of interactive video, a new form of en...
While the use of automated writing evaluation software has received much attention in CALL literature, as Frankenberg-Garcia (2019) notes, empirical research on predictive text and intelligent writing assistants is lacking. Thus, this study addressed this gap in the literature by examining the impact of Grammarly, an intelligent writing assistant t...
While the use of dual subtitles (concurrent L1 subtitles and L2 captions) has been studied in L2 research, more studies are needed to better understand the impact that this on-screen textual aid can have on vocabulary learning and comprehension. Therefore, this study explored if there were significant differences in vocabulary learning and listenin...
This paper provides a research synthesis of intelligent personal assistants (IPAs) – that is, cloud-based virtual assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri – for second language (L2) learning. The article also offers a theoretical justification for the use of IPAs in language learning and outlines the affordances and constraints of the t...
The use of video streaming services has exploded over the past several years. However, although the use of video is a well-studied topic in computer-assisted language learning
literature, the use of video streaming for out-of-class, informal foreign language (FL) learning has received little attention. This study addresses this gap in the literatur...
The ubiquity of smartphones and the growing popularity of smart speakers have given rise to cloud-based, intelligent personal assistants (IPAs), such as Siri and Google Assistant. However, little is known about the use of IPAs for Autonomous Second Language Learning (ASLL). Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: to assess Japanese English as a...
Although initial research involving Intelligent Personal Assistants (IPAs) for language learning have yielded promising results, no study has examined their use in the context of Autonomous Second Language Learning (ASLL). Thus, the main goal of this pilot study was to investigate the use of an IPA, specifically Alexa, for ASLL. Two Japanese univer...
The evolving video viewing habits of consumers combined with advances in mobile technology have resulted in the growth of video on demand (VOD) services. While these video streaming services potentially offer several benefits for L2 learners, little is known about them in the context of language learning. Thus, this study fills this gap in the lite...
The evolving video viewing habits of consumers combined with advances in mobile technology have resulted in the growth of video on demand (VOD) services. While these video streaming services potentially offer several benefits for L2 learners, little is known about them in the context of language learning. Thus, this study fills this gap in the lite...
Web 2.0 technologies have become an integral part of our lives, transforming not only how we communicate with others, but also how language is taught and learned in the L2 classroom. Several studies have looked into the use of these tools and how they influence L2 learning (e.g. Jin, 2015; Wang & Vásquez, 2014), yet only one has compared the effect...
The proliferation of smartphones has given rise to intelligent personal assistants (IPAs), software that helps users accomplish day-to-day tasks. However, little is known about IPAs in the context of second language (L2) learning. Therefore, the primary objectives of this case study were twofold: to assess the ability of Amazon's IPA, Alexa, to und...
Although current literature indicates that L2 students have mostly favorable attitudes towards Facebook, no study has incorporated a control group to examine learners' views of the social-networking service (SNS). Thus, it is unknown if L2 students view the SNS more positively than other writing mediums. This study seeks to fill this gap by analyzi...
Several researchers have compared the efficacy of digital flashcards (DFs) versus paper flashcards (PFs) to improve L2 vocabulary and have concluded that using DFs is more effective (Azabdaftari & Mozaheb, 2012; Başoğlu & Akdemir, 2010; Kiliçkaya & Krajka, 2010). However, these studies did not utilize vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) as a way...
Facebook has best leveraged the rapid technological and societal changes over the past decade to grow into the world's largest social-networking site (SNS). However, research of Facebook has lagged behind other Web 2.0 technologies, particularly in regards to investigating its efficacy versus a control group to improve L2 writing. This study, which...
The Internet has made it possible for teachers to administer online assessments with affordability and ease. However, little is known about Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' attitudes of internet-based tests (IBTs). Therefore, this study aimed to measure the perceptions of IBTs among Japanese English language learners with the...
This study examined the efficacy of using Quizlet, a popular online study tool, to develop L2 English vocabulary. A total of 9 Japanese university EFL students participated in the study. The learners studied Coxhead’s (2001) academic vocabulary list (AWL) via Quizlet over the course of 10 weeks. Results of the pre- and post-tests revealed that the...
This study looked into Japanese students’ opinions of the use of Netflix and subtitles in the L2 classroom. A total of nine university students in a communicative English class participated in the study. The learners viewed three American TV shows over the course of six weeks. Students viewed each show an equal number of times using different subti...
This study looked into the effects of timed blogging on L2 writing fluency and lexical richness, i.e., the degree in which a student is able to use a varied and large vocabulary (Laufer & Nation, 1995). The participants consisted of nineteen low-level and intermediate EFL learners at a university in Japan. The students wrote timed blog entries twic...
Facebook is the most widely used social networking site in the world. However, little is known of the views that Japanese students have towards its use to enhance language learning. This paper reports on a survey of students in Japan to determine their perceptions of the use of Facebook in four EFL courses. The participants were 41 students who wer...
The authors studied the effects of student blogging on participation in two English for specific purposes (ESP) courses designed for first-year university medical students. The students were divided into two online groups: a class blog (CB) group where learners were encouraged to read and respond to others’ posts, and a personal blog (PB) group in...
The increased usage of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in foreign language classrooms underscores the need to analyze learner interactions through research methods specifically created for computer-mediated discourse (CMD). However as Androutsopoulos and Beißwenger (2008) note, CMD has lagged behind other areas of discourse studies. Neve...
